Hyderabad: Telangana has launched a 100-day special drive for TB elimination as part of the nationwide campaign. The Union health ministry launched a 100-day Intensified TB Elimination Programme for the identification and treatment of TB patients. The programme focuses on districts with lower testing rates and higher TB risk populations.
Nationwide, 347 districts, including nine districts in Telangana, commenced the programme, which will run till March 17, 2025. The initiative aims to identify high risk populations for TB and conduct extensive testing. Telangana govt has set up 26 mobile screening vehicles to support this effort.
Health minister Damodara Rajanarasimha took part in a video conference held by Union health minister JP Nadda on the ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ (TB-Free India) campaign. As of now, 7,219 individuals have been screened in these nine districts, and 181 tested positive for TB, the health minister said.
During the conference, Raja Narasimha said the Telangana govt is committed to eradicating TB by 2025. He highlighted that the state is actively implementing all the programmes suggested by the Union health ministry for TB elimination.
The campaign was launched in Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, Suryapet, and Wanaparthi districts. The program aims to identify people at risk of TB in these districts and conduct screening. To facilitate the process, 26 mobile TB testing vehicles have been deployed.
The mobile units are equipped with advanced digital X-ray machines and CB-NAAT machines for testing. The state govt has ensured that adequate testing reagents and drugs are available for the 100-day programme.
Raja Narasimha emphasised that TB elimination can only be achieved through public awareness and early detection.
In line with this, the state has significantly increased the number of TB tests.
