State health and family welfare (H&FW) department launched the 100-day intensified TB (Tuberculosis) elimination campaign at Seikhazou, D. Khel Ground, here on Saturday.
The campaign is part of Centre’s effort to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global 2030 deadline set by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at the launching programme, state health minister P. Paiwang Konyak affirmed the commitment of the government to eliminate TB by 2025.
Paiwang asserted that TB has been a long-standing public health challenge, affecting countless lives, particularly the most vulnerable ones in the society. “It robs individuals of their health, productivity and dreams,” he said.
The minister, however, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to end TB disease by implementing bold, community-driven and patient-centric solutions.
He also assured that sufficient funding and resources would be allocated to support the campaign and ensure its success.
Paiwang said that 100-day intensified campaign was covering 347 selected high priority districts across 33 States/UTs, which would involve a comprehensive strategy to mobilize resources, raise awareness through visual and print media and intensify actions against TB.
In Nagaland, he said the campaign districts include Kohima, Mon and Wokha.
The minister maintained that the campaign was a clarion call for people’s participation, adding that TB can be eradicated with the combined efforts of government agencies, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, private players and most importantly, the communities.
Health minister has, therefore, appealed to all responsible to pledge their unwavering support to the cause and reaffirm their commitment to the vision for a healthier, TB-free India. “This battle will not be easy, but together, we will overcome,” Paiwang underlined.
The minister thanked the health workers and stakeholders for their relentless dedication, saying they were the driving force behind the movement.
Earlier, commissioner & secretary H&FW, Anoop Khinchi, delivering welcome address, underscored the critical importance of the campaign for the state, which recorded 4,284 active TB cases in 2023.
He urged the community members, public representatives, local bodies, self-help groups, and NGOs to play an active role in achieving the ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025.
While giving thematic message, MD NHM H&FW Nagaland Dr. Akuo Sorhie highlighted the campaign’s focus on vulnerable groups, including high-risk populations.
At the event, Nikshay Mitras and TB Champions were felicitated besides distribution of food baskets. The programme concluded with the flag-off of the ‘Nikshay Vahan’ by health minister Paiwang Konyak.
Meanwhile, the team visited the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Kohima to observe the deployment of an Ultra-Portable Chest X-Ray tool integrated with AI technology, designed for community-level TB detection, improving access to diagnostics in hard-to-reach areas.