No Tuberculosis in India: A Fight Toward 2025
Melanie Urena Lara
Staff Writer
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/delhi-chief-minister-rekha-gupta-launches-special-news-photo/2237437424?adppopup=trueMycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease Tuberculosis (TB), has become a growing concern for people around the world. Not only is it dangerous, but its ability to spread in crowded, low-resource areas puts vulnerable populations at high risk, especially India. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, “Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease after COVID-19. In India, a country that accounts for one-fourth of the total global TB burden, the public health threat is felt acutely.”
Due to the high burden of TB, India has worked diligently to tackle TB through the creation of several programs. The CDC points out that a notable Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) step taken isthe TB Mukt Baharat project, also known as TB Free-India. The project spreads the message of prevention, early treatment, and educating individuals about how to stop TB’s propagation. With the combination of conducting healthcare facility tests, IPC training, and the collective collaboration of professionals such as healthcare staff and microbiologists, India has been able to strengthen its response to this airborne disease.
Another initiative India has implemented into its no TB mission is the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare states it is “a comprehensive strategy that combines cutting-edge diagnosis, preventive care, patient support, and cross-sector partnerships to meet the ambitious goal of TB elimination by 2025.” India is striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of eliminating TB by 2025, ahead of the 2030 deadline. At the March 2018 End TB Summit, held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed this goal, which was emphasized again during the 2023 One World TB Summit in Varanasi. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare shares that the NTEP “…prioritized minimizing treatment delays and enhancing the quality of TB care, with a specific focus on addressing coexisting health conditions such as malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse through a differentiated care approach and by encouraging early diagnosis.”
The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a major program that uplifts economically disadvantaged Indian communities by giving out financial aid to TB patients. Starting in 2018, DBT provides monthly cash assistance, an amount equivalent to about seven U.S. dollars, directly to people going through treatment, with the objective of easing the issue of malnutrition. Although the program faced early implementation struggles and initially only reached some of the Indian population, the DBT remains steady in its mission, gradually expanding coverage. The National Library of Medicine highlights the impact of such an important initiative, “…well-implemented TB-specific cash transfers through the DBT program are feasible and are associated with better treatment outcomes; of 426 participants, 91 percent receiving DBT had successful treatment outcomes.” Such a result indicates that targeted financial support can directly improve the health outcomes of TB patients while simultaneously addressing social factors that affect the spread of the disease, akin to poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare services.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports India’s hard work against TB. A WHO representative, named Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin says that TB services must be integrated with broader health initiatives, including management of noncommunicable diseases, nutrition, and mental health, to provide communities with a more comprehensive care system. With this, India continues to make measurable improvements, while also trying to protect Indians who are “also at risk of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse,” as noted by WHO. Statistics illustrate progress despite challenges. The International Society for Infectious Diseases reports that the TB treatment success rate rose, “from less than 80% in 2015 to 89% in 2023,” while mortality fell nearly two-thirds since 2000. This decline highlights the effectiveness of India’s coordinated efforts at prevention, treatment, and support.
Thus, the initiatives taken to alleviate the stress and pain caused by TB demonstrate a clear goal of protecting the people of India. India’s mission to end Tuberculosis in 2025 reflects its determination to prevail in the face of adversity, while also setting an inspiring example for global health efforts.
Image courtesy of Getty Images.