Panchayats in Jharkhand Declared TB Free

• 28 Aug 2024

Why in News?

According to the sources, a total of 38 panchayats across Jharkhand have been declared Tuberculosis (TB)-free under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

Key Points

• The information was declared by the State Tuberculosis Cell Jharkhand and the Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH).
• The NTEP in Jharkhand aims to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by the year 2025 through diverse initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and the adult BCG vaccination program.

Tuberculosis

• About:
  • Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  • It commonly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body.
  • It is a treatable and curable disease.
• Transmission:
  • TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.
• Symptoms:
  • Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
• Vaccine:
  • Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for TB disease.

Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

• About:
  • It's an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination by 2025.
• Objectives:
  • 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.