TB immunization increased to 6%, aim 90% this year: Modi
Inaugurating the first "End TB Summit" in Delhi, PM Narendra Modi claimed that the rate of immunization against the disease had increased from just 1% annually to 6% since 2014. If it were to continue at the earlier pace, it would have taken 40 years to eradicate tubercolosis (TB), he said. The goal is to achieve 90% immunization within the next year, he added.
Watch: Modi inaugurates the 'End TB Summit' in Delhi
India is globally the worst affected by TB
According to the Global TB Report 2017 released by the WHO, India continues to be the worst affected by TB. Of the estimated 10.4mn new cases of 2016, India had the maximum number of patients, followed by Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria and South Africa. The same year, about 27.9L people in India were suffering from the disease. Nearly 4.23L patients died.
Government doing "massive work" to check TB cases: Modi
Modi said the government is doing "massive work" to ensure TB cases are identified fast and proper medicines given. He also suggested using cooperative federalism to counter the disease. In December'17, he had asked state CMS to hold quarterly reviews of the TB control program.
Modi launches Tuberculosis-Free India Campaign at the Summit
The health ministry has set an aim of eradicating TB by 2025, a goal listed in its 2017-2025 National Strategic Plan. At the Summit, co-hosted by the ministry, WHO and Stop TB Partnership, Modi reiterated the goal, which is five years earlier than the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. He also launched the 'Tuberculosis-Free India Campaign' to advance the activities of the National Strategic Plan.
