Health minister flags off 75 Trucks for countrywide Awareness Drive to eliminate TB

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday flagged off 75 Trucks with TB awareness messages that have been provided by Apollo Tyres Foundation, who are actively supporting the Ni-kshay scheme. These trucks will travel and carry the messages of TB-free India across states.

“The whole country is enthused and mobilized in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari to work towards elimination of TB. Synergized with the clarion call of Prime Minister to end TB in the country five years ahead of SDG2030 target, more than 71,000 Ki-shay Mitras have come forward and are today supporting over 10 lakh TB patients through nutritional support and other means, as part of Union Government’s Ni-kshay scheme for elimination of TB through mobilization of all walks of stakeholders across corporates, NGOs, people’s representatives, individuals etc”, said Mandaviya while addressing the Partnership Action against Tuberculosis (PAcT) Summit, here today.

Mandaviya said, “India’s has its own healthcare model with shared social and national responsibilities. Multi-sectoral engagement is a key pillar in supporting National TB Elimination Programme by leveraging cooperation from other stakeholders. Only through joint efforts and collaborations we can achieve the goal of making India TB free by 2025.

“I urge everyone to come forward in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari.” He highlighted that Nikshay Mitras not only provide financial and nutritional support to the TB patients but also personally engage with them over the Nikshay Mitra portal to ensure their overall wellbeing”, he added.

Dr Mandaviya appreciated the innovative way in which Apollo Tyres Foundation has intensified TB-Free India Campaign by engaging – Heroes on Wheels (Truck Drivers) and other vulnerable groups across 32 locations in 19 States in the country to create awareness of Tuberculosis. They have also adopted 75 TB patients under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Noting that truck drivers form an important cohort of TB patients,  Dr Mandaviya stated that it is important to enhance awareness about TB prevention and control through timely testing, completing the treatment course, etc. He added that the initiative of 75 trucks branded with TB messages from five locations (Delhi, Mudra Port- Gujarat, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Agartala) will boost efforts to address TB among truckers’ communities and others closely associated with the community.

He also urged other corporates, institutions, trade bodies, associations and individuals to come forward and actively support India’s battle against tuberculosis.