TB-Free India campaign is a people’s movement: Shandil

The Rotary Eye Hospital, Palampur, organised a programme to give direction to the Tuberculosis (TB) Mukat Bharat Abhiyan and the campaign for a Tobacco-Free Society today. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil was the chief guest of the function.

“The TB-Free India Campaign is not just a health programme; it is a people’s movement. Our mission will remain incomplete until treatment, awareness and support reach every individual,” said the minister. He urged the youth to stay away from tobacco and substance abuse. He stressed that a tobacco-free society was the foundation of a healthy and strong India.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Vivek Karol said that the Health Department was fully committed to the eradication of tuberculosis and tobacco control by making it a public movement. He highlighted the important role of community participation and institutions like the Rotary in eliminating the disease. He added that tuberculosis was a curable disease if patients regularly take medicines and follow the advice of doctors. “The government is providing all medicines to TB patients free of cost in all health centres and state hospitals,” he added.

District TB Officer Dr Rajesh Sood said that all health institutions in the district were actively engaged in TB screening, testing and tobacco control activities. He added that the goal of the department was to ensure quality diagnosis and treatment of every patient.

A community health awareness camp was also organised with the support of the Rotary Eye Foundation, Palampur. The participants took a collective pledge to make Himachal a TB-free and tobacco-free state.

Palampur MLA Ashish Butail, Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, Dr Vivek Karol, District TB Officer Dr Rajesh Sood, Palampur SDM Netra Metri, Gopalpur BMO Dr Anupama, Managing Director of the Rotary Eye Hospital Raghav Sharma, Chairman of the Rotary Eye Foundation KG Butail and Rotary Foundation representative Kapil Sood attended the event.