Haryana launches patient-centric initiatives to eliminate tuberculosis

Chandigarh: Working towards eliminating tuberculosis and ensuring dignified, comprehensive care for every affected individual, the health and family welfare department has launched a series of new patient-centric initiatives under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) that go well beyond medicine, from sewing machines to celebrity campaigns.Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Sumita Misra unveiled these initiatives on Wednesday. The announcements include the launch of a dedicated State TB Cell website for real-time public access to TB services, a first-of-its-kind Sewing Machine Centre to help TB survivors regain financial independence, a clinical guidance document aimed at cutting TB mortality, an upcoming celebrity-led awareness drive, and the integration of SNA Sparsh with the national Nikshay digital platform.
The Sewing Machine Centre, she noted, reflects the state's commitment to life after TB, with the first trained beneficiary set to receive her machine shortly. The upcoming website, meanwhile, will enhance transparency and public access to TB-related services across the state.Highlighting the state's performance from Jan to Dec 2025, she informed that Haryana conducted 12,52,537 sputum tests against a target of 9,75,000, achieving 3,848 tests per lakh population. A total of 88,689 TB cases were notified, reaching 98% of the annual target. The private sector exceeded expectations with 105% achievement, reflecting effective public-private coordination.Treatment outcomes remain encouraging, with 74,483 patients successfully treated in 2024, achieving a 90% treatment success rate. HIV testing coverage reached 98%, while diabetes screening covered 96% of TB patients, ensuring integrated management of co-morbid conditions. Universal drug susceptibility testing was offered to 90% of microbiologically confirmed cases, strengthening quality of care.Misra said that Haryana's infrastructure continues to expand with 23 District TB Centres, 168 TB Units and 452 Microscopy Centres, supported by 45 CBNAAT machines, 53 Truenat machines and 2 Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing laboratories at Karnal and PGIMS Rohtak.Under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Nikshay Shivir), over 34 lakh vulnerable individuals were mapped and more than 10 lakh were screened. Nutritional and social support through the Nikshay Mitra initiative benefited thousands, with over 2.64 lakh food baskets distributed since Sept 2022. Haryana also received national appreciation for its Nikshay Mitra initiative on World TB Day 2025 and achieved 1,855 TB Mukt Panchayats in 2024, she added. MSID:: 128507266 413 |