How once 'backward' Idukki is helping India eradicate tuberculosis

IndiaSpend is tracking Kerala's ambitious plans to reduce the number of TB cases to 2020 by 2020

In 2006, Idukki was the worst performing district in tuberculosis (TB) control in Kerala. The scenic hilly district, famous for its tourist destinations of Munnar and Thekkady, has difficult terrain and relatively poor public healthcare systems.

The district was detecting only 17 TB cases per 100,000 population at the time, which, as per the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), was below expectation. RNTCP expected about 50 cases to be picked up per 100,000 people in south India.

In 2006, however, the District TB Centre decided to fill all vacancies of medical officers and laboratory