New Delhi, May 13 (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review the progress of the tuberculosis (TB) eradication campaign. India aims to be completely free of tuberculosis (TB) by the end of this year.

Sharing a photo from the meeting on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Chaired a meeting on India’s mission for TB eradication. Inspired by active public participation, this movement has gained significant momentum in recent years. Our government is committed to working with all stakeholders to realize the dream of a TB-free India.”

The meeting was attended by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Health Secretary Poonam Salila Srivastava, and senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office.

It is noteworthy that the central government has developed important strategies to combat TB under its National Tuberculosis Eradication Program (NTEP). These initiatives aim to bolster efforts in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, facilitating progress towards a TB-free India. The government has set a target for TB eradication five years ahead of the global goal of 2030.

According to the World Health Organization's Global TB Report, India has made remarkable progress in this regard, evidenced by a nearly 17.7 percent reduction in TB cases from 2015 to 2023. The mortality rate associated with TB has also decreased.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar