India has targeted to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing a public meeting, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on March 12, 2018.

Our Correspondent / New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched Tuberculosis Free India Campaign. Inaugurating the Delhi End TB Summit in New Delhi, Mr Modi said this Summit will be known as a landmark event to end TB permanently from Earth.

He said TB was declared emergency by WHO 25 years ago and India have come a long way in the fight against Tuberculosis.

He said it is important to get rid of Tuberculosis within the stipulated time period.

Mr Modi said new initiatives have been taken to eliminate the diseases, budget allocation has been increased, nutritional support is being given through DBT.

He added that government is engaging private sector in the schemes for better implementation.

Speaking on the occasion Health Minister J P Nadda said India is committed to eliminate Tuberculosis from the world.

Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said WHO stands with India and other countries in the fight against Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis Free India Campaign will take the activities of National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB elimination forward in a mission mode.

The NSP is backed by a funding of over 12,000 crore rupees over the next three years to ensure that every TB patient has access to quality diagnosis, treatment and support.

The new NSP adopts a multi-pronged approach which aims to Detect all TB patients, with an emphasis on reaching TB patients seeking care from private providers and undiagnosed TB in high-risk populations.

The summit is being co-hosted by the Health Ministry, WHO South East Asia Regional Office and Stop TB Partnership.