Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: In a bid to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis (TB), Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, recently inaugurated the "100-Day Intensified TB Campaign." The initiative targets 19 high-risk districts across the state with the aim of improving case detection, minimizing diagnostic delays, and boosting treatment outcomes.
The campaign is aligned with the national goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eliminate TB by 2025, which includes a 90% reduction in incidence and mortality compared to 2015 levels. As part of the launch, advocacy materials were introduced to raise public awareness about TB, and a special fleet of diagnostic and treatment vehicles, named "Nikshay Vahan," was flagged off to reach underserved areas.
A key feature of the campaign is the "Nikshay Mitra programme," which provides nutritional support to TB patients, helping to improve their recovery outcomes. To incentivize community health workers, ASHA volunteers are rewarded with Rs 100 for each referral and Rs 500 for each confirmed case. In addition, patients benefit from a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 under the "Nikshay Poshan Yojana" to support their nutritional needs during treatment.
The event also recognized local TB champions, Arjun Charan Nath and Sasmita Patra, for their outstanding contributions to raising awareness and supporting TB patients in their communities.
With this intensified focus on detection, treatment, and community involvement, the campaign hopes to make significant strides toward eliminating TB from the state by 2025.
