NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa reported 1,860 cases
of tuberculosis (TB) in 2025 even as the state saw an
increase by 46 per cent in the presumptive TB examination, from 2,238 in 2024 to 3,158 in 2025, per lakh population.
To achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to TB, the Union government has implemented TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (National TB Elimination Programme), under the aegis of National Health Mission (NHM) across all states and union territories.
“To address TB among the vulnerable population across the country, key strategies implemented are mapping of congregate settings and vulnerable population including asymptomatic, pro-active screening of vulnerable population by chest x-ray for early detection, upfront nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for all presumptive TB cases, timely treatment initiation and completion, differentiated TB care
for managing high-risk
TB cases, nutrition support and preventive treatment
to eligible vulnerable population,” the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
The measures taken under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, to reduce TB incidence, mortality, strengthen surveillance, treatment adherence, reduce drug resistance, nutrition interventions, and prevent relapse among all TB patients include targeted interventions in high TB burden areas through state and district-specific strategic plans, intensified TB case-finding among vulnerable populations through mobile diagnostic units for reaching out to remote and rural areas and provision of free drugs and diagnostics to TB patients, among
others.
The other measures include private sector engagement with incentives for notification and management of TB cases, upfront nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), for early detection of drug resistance and ensure appropriate treatment regimen, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana of Rs 1,000 per month per patient as nutritional support for the entire duration of treatment, provision of additional nutritional support to TB patients and household contacts under Ni-kshay Mitra initiative, provision of TB preventive treatment to contacts of TB patients and vulnerable population, etc, in addition to intensified Information, Education and Communication (IEC) interventions to reduce stigma, enhance community awareness and improve health seeking behaviour.
