JP Nadda stresses coordination, AI-driven screening to accelerate TB elimination efforts in Delhi
New Delhi, July 1
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday chaired a review meeting of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and the 100-day tuberculosis campaign with the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, emphasising that the elimination of tuberculosis can only be achieved through cooperation, public participation and coordinated implementation at all levels.
According to a press release, addressing the meeting, Nadda said that while significant efforts have been made under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the remaining gap between efforts and outcomes can only be bridged through Jan Bhagidari (people's participation). He said tuberculosis elimination cannot be achieved by the health system in isolation and called for a people's movement with active participation from communities, public representatives and civil society.
The Union Health Minister stressed that Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and Municipal Councillors should be regularly apprised by health officials about the TB burden in their respective constituencies, the challenges being faced, the solutions being implemented and the specific role they can play in accelerating case detection, ensuring treatment adherence and mobilising community support.
He noted that public representatives are an important bridge between the government and the people, and their active involvement can significantly strengthen grassroots implementation of the campaign.
Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision articulated during the recent PRAGATI meeting, Nadda underlined that implementation should be based on cooperation rather than working in isolation. He directed that every ward should have a designated senior government officer to monitor the progress of the campaign. He also called for greater participation of MY Bharat volunteers to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and community outreach.
Highlighting the role of technology in strengthening TB detection, the Union Minister said support would be provided for more handheld X-ray machines integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate early diagnosis and improve case detection.
Nadda further emphasised the need for close coordination among the Union Ministry, the Delhi Government, district administration, healthcare institutions and frontline workers to ensure effective implementation of the campaign. He also stressed that all communication related to the campaign should be conveyed in simple, easily understandable language to ensure wider public outreach and participation.
The Union Health Minister directed that regular joint review meetings involving hospitals, state health authorities and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare be convened to review progress, address implementation challenges and facilitate the timely exchange of best practices. He said sustained coordination, collective ownership and Jan Bhagidari would be critical to achieving the national goal of a TB-Mukt Bharat.
Presenting the programme review, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Aradhana Patnaik, said AI-driven vulnerability mapping using more than 30 region-specific indicators has identified 1.58 lakh high-risk villages and wards across the country. In Delhi, the exercise has narrowed the focus to 38 wards across 11 districts that together account for over 80 per cent of the city's high-risk burden, enabling a precision-targeted approach.
Patnaik said Delhi has screened 28.83 lakh people, conducted 21.67 lakh chest X-rays and 3.65 lakh molecular (NAAT) tests, and notified 1.75 lakh TB patients under the campaign. She acknowledged the contribution of ASHA workers, Community Health Officers, laboratory technicians and field teams in carrying out ward-level screening and testing.
She suggested that Delhi work towards providing upfront NAAT testing for all presumptive and drug-resistant TB cases alongside X-ray screening, ensure 100 per cent assessment of TB patients for differentiated care, further scale up TB Preventive Treatment for household contacts and other eligible vulnerable groups, and expand the engagement of Ni-kshay Mitras and MY Bharat volunteers to provide psychosocial support that often determines treatment adherence.
Patnaik also encouraged Delhi to strengthen coordination with Resident Welfare Associations, ward committees and elected representatives, while affirming that the Union Health Ministry would continue to support the Delhi Government in achieving the objectives of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
The review meeting was attended by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, MCD Mayor Parvesh Wahi, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, Special Secretary (Urban Development) Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, directors of AIIMS New Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Army Hospital, representatives of NDMC, and senior officials from the Delhi Government and the Union Health Ministry.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Appreciate the emphasis on coordination with public representatives—MPs, MLAs, councillors need to be held accountable for TB in their areas. But why has it taken so long to map high-risk wards? 1.58 lakh villages identified is massive, yet we still have people dying of TB in 2024. 🙏 Let's hope the 100-day campaign actually brings results.
Good to see India adopting AI for public health—something the West is also exploring. But the real challenge is treatment adherence. Providing psychosocial support through Ni-kshay Mitras is a smart move. As someone who's seen TB in developing countries, nutrition support is equally crucial. Hope the Delhi govt pairs this with food aid.
Awesome initiative! As someone whose family member recovered from TB, early detection is a lifesaver. But the meeting had big names—AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML—but where are the actual frontline workers? ASHA didi's deserve more credit. Also, 21 lakh chest X-rays in Delhi is no joke, but screening in high-risk wards like Seelampur and Jahangirpuri needs daily follow-ups. AI mapping is great, but ground-level execution matters.
Impressed by the data: 1.75 lakh TB patients notified in Delhi alone. But I'm skeptical—are these new cases or just ones finally being reported? The stigma around TB in India is real, and people hide it. The focus on "simple language" communication is a good step, but we also need to address myths about TB being a "shameful" disease. Awareness campaigns should target families, not just patients.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.