‘By working together, we can end the TB epidemic’

Morung Express News
Kohima | March 25

Additional Secretary of Health & Family Welfare for Nagaland, S Tainu today remarked that the Government of India has committed to end TB by 2025 in the country, 5 years ahead of the SDG targets, which is guided by the National Strategic Plan (2017-25). Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of India’s biggest public health concerns with an estimated 28 lakh new cases occurring annually and contributing to 26% of the global burden (Global TB Report 2024). 

Addressing the World Tuberculosis Day organised by the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) State TB Cell at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR) Kohima, she underscored that “although the efforts of the government are yielding significant results, the community and the institutions in the society can play a critical role in filling gaps and addressing the challenges, thereby contributing to the national goal.”

Stating that TB is a preventable and curable disease, she however stated it requires sustained efforts to address the underlying causes and ensure access to quality care for all. “By working together, we can end the TB epidemic and save millions of lives”, she affirmed and urged upon the gathering and all stakeholders “to support the effort of ending TB in the state of Nagaland and also disseminate the noble cause to the community for accelerating response against TB to complement government efforts.”

In this regard, she underlined that, “only one person or one organisation cannot but together, we can not only wipe the tears of TB Patient and family members but also bring back the smile on the face of those people who are affected with TB.”

The challenge of tuberculosis, she pointed out, “requires a multi-sectoral response and calls for wide-ranging partnerships beyond the public sector to address the social determinants like nutritional support, promoting good hygiene, clean working conditions/environment, and an increase in access to diagnostic and treatment services.”

“Addressing TB requires collaboration between healthcare providers, community organisations and Government focusing on prevention, treatment and social support”, she underlined.

Tainu also said that the economic burden of TB in terms of loss of lives and income is substantial mostly among the economically productive age group of society pushing TB patients further into the vortex of poverty. “TB can lead to significant social and economic hardship for individuals and families, impacting productivity,” she stated. 

‘Undernutrition highly prevalent among people with TB’
Tainu informed that “undernutrition increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) and in turn TB can lead to malnutrition.” “Undernutrition is therefore highly prevalent among people with TB”, she said while referring to the recent national findings that showed that nearly about half of the TB diseased patients in the country are malnourished. 

She pointed out that there is globally recognised evidence, that by giving good nutrition to the household contacts of TB patients, incidence of TB can be brought down quite significantly by over 50%. “It almost acts like a vaccine”, she added.
Considering the absence of a very good vaccine, she maintained that “nutrition could actually be the approach in places like India where malnutrition is a risk factor for TB.”

For effective engagement of the community in the path towards ending TB in India, she highlighted that the Government of lndia through the National TB Elimination Programme has rolled out the flagship plan “Community Support to TB Patients” under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan with the broad objectives of providing additional patient support to improve treatment outcome of TB Patients, augmenting community involvement and leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

A Nikshay Mitra under this initiative, she said, can be an individual, Corporate, Elected Representative, Institution, NGO, Political Party, State & District Administration with minimum period of commitment for six months and maximum of 3 years.

Elaborating that Nitshay Mitra can adopt the household contacts of TB patients for distribution of food baskets with a view to improve the immunity of the family members of TB patients, she stated that this would lead significant reduction in out-of-pocket expenses of TB patient and family.

In the state of Nagaland, she said there are about 500 registered Nikshay Mitras to support about 1500 TB patients who are currently on treatment. “This initiative will increase the active involvement of society, increase awareness & involvement of the community, reduce out-of-pocket expenditure which ultimately will improve nutrition and result in better treatment outcomes”, she said.

TB, she underlined, “continues to put a heavy burden and place the poor and vulnerable population with aggravating disparity.” She added that a holistic approach by all sectors along with a strong political commitment and support by civil societies and community will go a long way in achieving the desired goals and objectives in the State.”

In the meantime, as people living with TB often face stigma and discrimination hindering their access to health care and support, she said “it is crucial to address these issues and create an inclusive environment.”