Health & SocialImportant2025-03-24

Intensified TB Elimination Campaign Expanded

In News

What Happened

On World TB Day (March 24, 2025), the Union Health Ministry expanded the '100 Days Intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' to cover all districts nationwide. Initially launched in December 2024 for 347 high-priority districts, the campaign utilizes AI-driven portable X-rays and Nikshay Vahans (mobile screening vans) for active case finding.

Why It Matters

This aggressive expansion is a critical push to meet India's ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global SDG 3.3 target of 2030. Early detection and the deployment of advanced diagnostic tools are essential to reduce transmission and lower mortality rates in the country with the world's highest TB burden.

Background

History & Context

India accounts for approximately 27 percent of global tuberculosis cases. To combat this, the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025) was formulated under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). The 100-day intensified campaign was initially launched on December 7, 2024, by Health Minister J.P. Nadda in 347 high-burden districts to rapidly identify missing cases and reduce transmission.

What Changed

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Target area: BEFORE, the intensive 100-day screening campaign was restricted to 347 priority districts. NOW, it has been scaled to cover all districts across the country.
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Case detection tools: BEFORE, screening heavily relied on passive health-seeking behavior and standard facility-based diagnostics. NOW, proactive screening uses AI-enabled handheld X-rays and mobile diagnostic 'Nikshay Vahans' deployed directly to villages.
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MDR-TB Treatment: BEFORE, conventional multi-drug-resistant TB treatments lasted up to 20 months with severe toxic side effects. NOW, the newly introduced BPaLM regimen provides a highly effective, all-oral cure in just six months.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This aligns with Class 12 Biology Chapter 8 (Human Health and Disease), which covers bacterial diseases and the importance of public health measures for infection control. The campaign demonstrates active disease surveillance, rapid diagnostic technologies, and the use of targeted antibiotic regimens to combat multi-drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Consider the following statements regarding India's tuberculosis elimination efforts: 1. The BPaLM regimen, introduced under the National TB Elimination Programme, is an all-oral, 6-month treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis. 2. India's national goal for TB elimination aligns exactly with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3.3) target year of 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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