Chandigarh, April 22
The district review meeting was convened today in Panchkula under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, to galvanize efforts towards eliminating Tuberculosis (TB) in Haryana.
The meeting, held at the PWD rest house, was attended by State TB Officer Dr. Rajesh Raju and District TB Officers from all 22 districts of Haryana.
District TB Officer of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, also in attendance, highlighted the regional importance of TB control by showcasing success story of the 100 days campaign in Punjab.
Representatives from the Haryana State AIDS Control Society, the National Communicable Diseases program, and esteemed partner agencies such as the World Health Partner, TB Alert, Wadhwani AI, and the Clinton Foundation further enriched the discussions.
The agenda for the day was comprehensive, focusing on critical aspects of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP): Strategies for an Intensified Active Case Finding (ACF) campaign were thoroughly discussed, emphasizing geography-based microplanning and the crucial involvement of trained Community Health Officers, ANMs, and ASHAs at the grassroots level. MD, NHM, Sh R. S. Dhillion, passionately urged each District TB Officer to embrace their role as a “district ambassador” for the NTEP.
A detailed review of all districts was conducted based on the performance indicators set by the Government of India under the NTEP. The State TB Officer stressed the imperative for all districts to elevate their performance, with a clear expectation of boosting TB elimination efforts.
The meeting delved into the comprehensive planning and execution of impactful, intensified ACF campaigns, aiming to identify and treat TB cases proactively.
The ambitious “TB Mukt Kurukshetra” (TB-free Kurukshetra) initiative was a key focus, with MD NHM reviewing the progress achieved and directing the district to organize screening camps in high-traffic areas like grain and vegetable markets, while also engaging religious leaders to amplify awareness and participation. Notably, districts Yamunanagar and Ambala voluntarily pledged their strong commitment to achieving TB-free status at the earliest.
Updates on the implementation of crucial programmatic components such as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Line Probe Assay/Liquid Culture Drug Susceptibility Testing (LPA/LC-DST) were provided. The rollout of the shorter and more effective BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant TB was also reviewed.
The MD NHM underscored the importance of identifying new Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to secure vital screening equipment, radiographers, and nutritional support kits under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Director General Health Services, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, emphasized the need for rigorous weekly reviews and dynamic month-wise Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) mapping for every TB patient at the village level to ensure treatment adherence.
The Additional Chief Secretary not only reviewed the achievements of the recent 100-day TB elimination campaign and action plan of all the districts to eliminate TB, he also meticulously assessed the progress of the TB-free Kurukshetra initiative. He issued a directive to identify and screen at least 15 close contacts of every TB patient and initiate TB preventive therapy as needed. Furthermore, he announced the constitution of a State Task Committee dedicated to generating demands for essential equipment and funds, and to closely monitor the screening process, with a target of completing screening in Kurukshetra before June 30, 2025. In a significant move to bolster efforts in Kurukshetra, all Ayurvedic Medical Officers in the district will actively contribute to the National TB Elimination Programme at the sub-center level. The ACS (Health) gave directions that all MPHW (Male) will do the work of TB screening for the National TB programme in District Kurukshetra.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of commitment and a clear roadmap for intensified action, reinforcing Haryana’s dedication to achieving a TB-free future.
