In news– Recently, President of India virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan(campaign).
About the campaign-
- Objectives of the initiatives are:
- Provide additional patient support to improve treatment outcomes of TB patients.
- Augment community involvement in meeting India’s commitment to end TB by 2025.
- Leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
- The President also launched the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative which forms a vital component of the `Abhiyaan’.
- The Ni-kshay Mitra portal provides a platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment.
- The three-pronged support includes nutritional, additional diagnostic, and vocational support.
- The donors, called Ni-kshay Mitras, could be a wide range of stakeholders from elected representatives, political parties, to corporates, NGOs, and individuals.
- The launch event aims to highlight the need for a societal approach that brings together people from all backgrounds into a `Jan Andolan’ to achieve the ambitious target of eliminating TB from the country by 2025.
- According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030.
- But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
- TB is a contagious infection, in which the TB bacteria attack the lungs, but they can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
- Latent TB doesn’t have symptoms, in which case, a skin or blood test can verify its presence.
- Signs of active TB disease include: A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, Chest pain, Coughing up blood, Feeling tired all the time, Night sweats, Chills, Fever, Loss of appetite, Weight loss.
Source: The Hindu
