100-Day TB Elimination Campaign: 70 fresh TB cases detected at Una

The Una district health department has identified 70 new tuberculosis (TB) cases during the ‘100-Day TB Elimination Campaign,’ conducted from December 7, 2024, to March 24, 2025. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Sanjeev Verma disclosed this during a district-level event in Haroli, where field-level health workers involved in the campaign were felicitated.

Dr Verma highlighted that the campaign involved extensive awareness and screening efforts led by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Community Health Officers (CHOs), under the supervision of medical officers, the District TB Programme Officer, and Block Medical Officers. Portable X-ray machines were used to screen individuals with TB-like symptoms, and clinical data was collected for further examination.

During the campaign, 83,000 people were screened against the initial target of 78,000, and 45,000 chest X-rays were conducted at the household level. Suspected cases underwent microbiological sputum tests and blood examinations to confirm TB. Patients diagnosed with the disease received free diagnostic, nutritional and vocational support.

Dr Verma noted that while the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set 2030 as the target year for global TB elimination, the Centre aims to eradicate the disease by 2025. He emphasised the importance of breaking the chain of infection, as a single TB-positive individual can transmit the disease to 10-15 healthy persons annually.

District TB Programme Officer Dr Vishal Thakur reported that, in addition to the newly detected cases, 382 patients are already undergoing treatment in Una. He added that all 83,000 individuals screened will undergo a Cy-TB skin test to detect dormant TB bacteria, which could become active later. Those testing positive will be provided a preventive TB treatment course.

Dr Thakur also revealed that 7,000 people with TB-like symptoms were identified during the campaign. Their sputum samples will be tested using the NAAT machine, which performs DNA-based molecular tests to detect TB bacteria. He credited community participation as a crucial factor in the campaign’s success.

In a remarkable moment during the event, the health department honoured 100-year-old Shanti Devi, a resident of Saloh village, who successfully overcame TB at her age. The event was attended by Dr Sanjay Mankotia, Medical Superintendent of Una Regional Hospital, along with Block Medical Officers Dr PS Rana (Haroli), Dr Ram Pal (Basdehra), Dr Pankaj Parashar (Gagret), and Dr Rajiv Garg (Amb).