Himachal adjudged best in fight against tuberculosis

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, March 24

Himachal Pradesh has been ranked No 1 among all states having a population of more than 50 lakh in National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. Dr Nipun Jindal, Mission Director, NHM, and Dr Gopal Beri, State Tuberculosis Officer, received the award from Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi today.

“It’s a big achievement for the state, a total team effort. The fact that we have managed to top the rankings in the times of pandemic makes the feat even more special,” said Amitabh Awasthi, Secretary Health.

This year, the Government of India also started sub-national certification of districts for the elimination of TB. Under this initiative, five districts – Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur had applied. A survey was conducted in the month of February 2021 and the results were declared on the occasion of World TB Day today. Lahaul and Spiti earned silver medal for its efforts to curb TB, while Kinnaur, Hamirpur, Una and Kangra won bronze medals.

The nation has committed itself to end tuberculosis by 2025, and Himachal Pradesh has set itself a goal to eliminate the disease ahead of the national deadline.

“The state has been able to perform well on all the parameters and earn the first rank in the country due to various efforts like expansion of diagnostic net, frontline response, treatment adherence, community participation, etc,” said Awasthi. “The implementation has been strengthened and supplemented by a state scheme ‘Mukhya Mantri Kshay Rog Nivaran Yojana’, which includes monetary provisions as well,” he said.