Over 40 fresh cases detected in Chamba district

The Chamba Health Department on Monday organised a felicitation event to mark World Tuberculosis Day, recognising the efforts of panchayat representatives, NGOs, health workers, and ASHA workers in advancing the TB eradication campaign in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal, who presided over the event, praised the collective efforts of all stakeholders in combating tuberculosis. He highlighted that during the 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, conducted from December 7, 2024 to March 17, 2025, extensive screenings and awareness campaigns were carried out to identify TB-prone populations and educate people about the disease.

Addressing the gathering, the DC urged residents to actively participate in the Nikshay Mitra Yojana, which provides nutritional support to TB patients. He emphasised that proper treatment and adequate nutrition are essential to achieving the 100 per cent target of the TB eradication campaign. He also called upon panchayat representatives and NGOs to contribute towards creating a drug-free society, noting that drug abuse is no longer confined to urban areas but is spreading rapidly in rural regions. Tackling this issue, he said, requires joint efforts from the government, administration, public representatives, NGOs, and the general public.

Earlier, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Bipen Thakur highlighted the importance of early detection and timely treatment in curing TB. He appealed to the public and media to help spread awareness, stressing that with sustained efforts, Chamba district aims to achieve complete TB eradication by the end of 2025, in line with government directives.

Providing key statistics from the 100-day campaign, Dr Thakur revealed that 79,800 individuals across all seven medical blocks in the district were identified as high-risk and underwent extensive screening. A total of 5,756 sputum samples were tested, and 13,712 individuals underwent

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