81 Mandi gram panchayats declared TB free

In a significant achievement for public health, 81 gram panchayats in Mandi district have been declared tuberculosis (TB) free.

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan credited the success to the concerted efforts of the district administration and the Health Department, highlighting the introduction of a modern portable X-ray machine to identify TB patients in remote areas. This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness of the TB eradication programme, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and Health Department employees for their contributions. The Deputy Commissioner said the government will reward tobacco-free gram panchayats with a grant of Rs 5 lakh for development projects.

Mandi Chief Medical Officer Dr Narendra Kumar Bhardwaj said out of the 92 gram panchayats that claimed to be TB free, 81 met the government’s criteria. He urged other panchayats to follow this example.

Similarly, 19 gram panchayats in Kullu district have been declared TB free, which is a major success for the district health authorities under the TB eradication campaign.