Context

According to the "WHO Global TB Report 2024" and India TB Report 2024, India will not be able to achieve the 2025 target set by the WHO End TB Strategy.

TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Transmission: TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

Risk: Anyone can get TB, but certain groups are at higher risk, including::

• People with weakened immune systems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, diabetes, certain cancers)
• People living in crowded or poorly ventilated environments
• People who have close contact with someone with active TB disease
• Healthcare workers
• People using medicines that weaken the immune system

Symptoms:

The symptoms of TB can vary depending on the part of the body affected. Common symptoms include: persistent cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks, coughing up blood or mucus, chest pain, fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.

Diagnosis:

• TB is diagnosed through a number of tests, including:
• Chest X-ray
• Tuberculin skin test
• Blood test (interferon gamma release assay)
• Testing sputum coughed up from the lungs

Treatment: TB is a curable disease. Treatment usually involves taking multiple antibiotics for 6 to 9 months. It is important to take all medications as prescribed and complete the full course of treatment to prevent the bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Prevention: There are many ways to prevent TB, including:

• Getting the BCG vaccine (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)
• Avoiding close contact with people with active TB disease
• Improving ventilation in homes and other crowded places
• Early diagnosis and treatment of TB cases

Government schemes for TB elimination

Prevention: There are many ways to prevent TB, including:

• National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP): This programme aims to achieve TB elimination by 2025.
• Short Course of Directly Observed Treatment (DoTS): This strategy involves providing free anti-TB drugs and directly observing patients taking their medication to ensure adherence to treatment regimens.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana: This scheme provides nutrition support to TB patients in the form of a monthly financial incentive to help them purchase nutritious food.
• TB-Free Panchayats: This initiative involves engaging with local communities, especially gram panchayats, to raise awareness about TB, reduce stigma, and promote early diagnosis and treatment.
• TB Harega Desh Jeetega: This campaign aims to raise awareness about TB and encourage people to seek treatment.
• Digital Health Initiatives: The government is leveraging digital technologies to improve TB care, including the use of mobile apps for patient tracking and telemedicine consultations.

WHO initiative to eradicate TB:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a comprehensive initiative called the "TB Elimination Strategy" to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) globally. The goal of this strategy is to create a TB-free world by 2035.

WHO TB elimination strategy:

Targets:

• Reduce TB incidence by 80%
• Reduce TB deaths by 90%
• Eliminate catastrophic costs for families affected by TB