On this World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, I reflect with immense pride on how India is rewriting the playbook in the fight against TB. The recently concluded 100-day Intensified TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has not only demonstrated the power of innovation but has also shown that mobilizing communities is just as crucial as transforming the programmatic approach. The campaign was launched on 7th , December2024 with the objectives to Accelerate TB case detection, Reduce mortality and Prevent new cases.

The 100-day Intensified TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan introduced cutting-edge strategies to detect TB early, ensuring that even those without symptoms – who would have otherwise gone undiagnosed – were identified and treated. Portable X-ray machines were taken directly to high-risk individuals, including people with diabetes, smokers, alcohol consumers, those living with HIV, the elderly, those with low BMI and household contacts of TB patients. Artificial intelligence-powered X-rays flagged suspected TB cases instantly, and confirmation was done using gold-standard Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT). These efforts ensured that contagious cases were identified and treated quickly, curbing transmission and saving lives.

The campaign reached every corner of the country, screening 12.97 crore people belonging to vulnerable populations. This intensive effort led to the notification of 7.19 lakh TB patients, out of which 2.85 lakh cases were asymptomatic and would have otherwise been missed but for this innovative approach, thus breaking the chain of TB infection. This is more than just........

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