Forty-six civil society organisations working in the area of tuberculosis prevention today held discussions to achieve the goal of a 'TB-free India' and the vital role of NGOs to achieve the target.
The meeting was organised jointly by Health and Family Welfare Ministry and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease under the 'Call To Action For a TB-Free India Campaign' that was launched by Union Minister J P Nadda last week.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Ministry joint secretary Anshu Prakash and Central Tuberculosis Division Directorate General Sunil D Khaparde called upon civil society members to come forth with solutions and help meet the goals that aims at reducing TB deaths by 95 per cent, reducing incidence rate by 90 per cent and zero-affected families facing catastrophic costs by 2035.
"The government is very keen, serious and committed in controlling and fighting TB and urges the civil society to work more cohesively to realise this mission. We hope together we can further synergise our efforts to achieve our goals.Our aim should be to reach out to people across the country in more proactive manner and realise the call to make India TB-Free," Prakash said.
India bears the highest burden of TB in the world accounting for 2.1 million cases and killing 2,78,000 Indians every year, according to WHO Global TB Report 2014, making TB one of country's severest health crises.
