Fighting TB with nutrition: Shimla explores local products for patient care

Shimla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anupam Kashyap on Saturday directed officials to explore the inclusion of locally produced nutritious items in the food kits being distributed to tuberculosis (TB) patients in the district. He said many self-help groups are producing high-quality products with medicinal value that could strengthen patients’ treatment and recovery.

He was presiding over a meeting of the District Tuberculosis Elimination Committee, where discussions were held on the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, handheld X-ray facilities and the Nikshay Mitra initiative.

Highlighting awareness efforts, the DC said special drives were carried out across 313 gram panchayats to educate people about TB. “Health teams shared details of various schemes at the panchayat level. People often hesitate to visit hospitals and TB or drug-affected patients receive very little support. Creating community awareness and involvement is our priority. A healthy community can only be built when people around us are healthy,” he stressed.

The DC announced that a joint meeting of government departments and social organisations will soon be convened to prepare a comprehensive action plan for making Shimla district TB-free.

Sharing progress under the National TB Elimination Programme, he said between January 1 and July 2025, the district achieved 1,226 cases against a target of 1,301. For HIV testing, 918 tests were conducted against a target of 956; for diabetes testing, 916 against 956 and for UDSD status, 569 against 601. The treatment success rate stood at 991 against a target of 1,142.

Under the TB Mukt Abhiyan, a target of 1,83,397 people was set for screening between December 7, 2024 and July 2025, out of which 1,20,396 were screened. Currently, Shimla district has 764 TB patients, of which 144 are receiving three-basket food kits and 11 are receiving six-basket kits, he added.