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Centre identifies 75 tribal districts for focused TB interventions

Published: 1st Sep, 2022

Context

To mark 75 years of India’s Independence, 75 high-burden tribal districts have been selected for focused interventions in the coming months during the 100-day Aashwasan Campaign under the ‘Tribal TB Initiative’.

About

Tribal TB Initiative:

  • Tribal TB Initiative is a joint initiativeof the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Central TB Division, Ministry of Health.
  • It is supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a technical partner and Piramal Swasthya as implementing partner.

Aashwasan Campaign:

  • The Aashwasan Campaign started in January 2022 for active case finding for TB in 174 tribal districts of India, under the ambit of the Tribal TB Initiative.
  • It was flagged off in Nandurbar District, Maharashtra.
  • Under the initiative, door-to-door screening for TB was undertaken covering 68,019 villages. 

About Tuberculosis:

  • TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, belonging to the Mycobacteriaceae family consisting of about 200 members.
  • In humans, TB most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB).
  • TB is a very ancient disease and has been documented to have existed in Egypt as early as 3000 BC.
  • TB is a treatable and curable disease.
  • Transmission: TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.

Vaccine

  • Currently, the following two vaccines have been developed and identified for TB, and are under Phase-3 clinical trial:
    • VPM (Vaccine Projekt Management) 1002
    • MIP (Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii)

Important Facts

  • World TB Day is observed on March 24.
  • TB Mukt Bharat (TB-free India): India is committed to ending the TB epidemic by 2025, five years ahead of the SDG target timeline.
  • Important national and international initiative to end TB
      • National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)
      • National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025)
      • The Nikshay Ecosystem (National TB information system)
      • Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY- financial support)
      • TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign.
      • TB Free India Campaign
      • Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)
      • International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)

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