In news
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan virtually addressed the Platinum Jubilee of the National Conference of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases (NATCON).
Who organized it?
- This year the conference was organised under the aegis of Tuberculosis Association of India, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore and MP TB Association.
Significance of the conference
This mega event served as a platform for various professionals and experts in the field of Tuberculosis, Chest Diseases and Covid -19 to share their knowledge in the fight against Tuberculosis with the goal of Eliminating TB from India by 2025.
About the Tuberculosis Association of India (TAI)
- TAI has been serving the cause of tuberculosis since 1939.
- It is one of the oldest and largest voluntary organizations having its affiliates all over the country.
- It was set up in February, 1939 as a registered society by incorporating the King Emperor’s Anti-Tuberculosis Fund and King George Thanks-giving (Anti-Tuberculosis) Fund.
- Marchioness of Linlithgow was the first President of the Association when the Tuberculosis Association of India was established on February 23, 1939.
Aims and objectives of TAI are:
- The prevention, control, treatment and relief of tuberculosis.
- The encouragement of and assistance in the establishment throughout India of State Associations having objectives similar in whole or in part to those of the Association.
- The affiliation or control of and the rendering of assistance to any institution having objectives similar in whole or in part to the objects of the Association.
- The undertaking of the Research and Investigation on subjects concerning tuberculosis and allied chest diseases.
- The doing of all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.
India’s initiatives
India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, five years before global targets. Following are the some of initiatives related to TB:
Nikshay Poshan Yojana(2018):
- Its a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme, to provide nutritional support to TB patients.
- Under the scheme, TB patients have been receiving Rs 500 per month for the entire duration of treatment
National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017-2025:
- The NSP for TB elimination 2017–25 is a framework to guide the activities of all stakeholders including the national and state governments, development partners, civil society organizations, international agencies, research institutions, private sector, and many others whose work is relevant to TB elimination in India.
- The NSP 2017-2025 which builds on the success and learnings of the last NSP, and articulates the bold and innovative steps required to move towards TB elimination, is a 3 year costed plan and an 8-year strategy document.
- It provides goals and strategies for the country’s response to the disease during the period 2017 to 2025 and aims to direct the attention of all stakeholders on the most important interventions or activities that the RNTCP believes will bring about significant changes in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of TB.
