President of India launches Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

Source: The post is based on the article “President of India launches Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” published in PIB on 9th September 2022.

What is the News?

The President of India has virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to reinvigorate the mission of TB elimination from the country by 2025. 

What is Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan?

Aim: To bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.

Objectives: 1) Provide additional patient support to improve treatment outcomes of TB patients, 2) Augment community involvement in meeting India’s commitment to end TB by 2025 and 3) Leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

Key component of the Abhiyan: Under this initiative, Ni-kshay Mitra forms a vital component.

Ni-kshay Mitra are donors who can provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment. The three-pronged support includes nutritional, additional diagnostic, and vocational support. 

These donors could be a wide range of stakeholders from elected representatives, political parties, to corporates, NGOs, and individuals.

Ni-kshay portal can be used by the donor to adopt TB patients. The portal will also have a real-time tracker of the number of people who get adopted

The minimum period of commitment for providing additional support to the TB patient shall be one year.

What are the expected outcomes of the initiative?

This initiative will increase the active involvement of society in the fight against tuberculosis. 

This activity aims at increasing awareness among the public regarding tuberculosis.

The involvement of the community in supporting the treatment cascade shall also help in the reduction of stigma.

Provision of additional support to the TB patient shall also result in the reduction of the out-of-pocket expenditure for the family of the TB patient.