378/2022-2023

Aizawl, the 24th March 2023: Mizoram joined the worldwide observation of World Tuberculosis Day 2023 with a dedicated official function organised at Conference Hall, Assembly Annexe in the state capital today. Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The theme for this year's World TB Day is, "Yes. We Can End TB!"

Earlier in the day, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati participated via video conferencing in the international level summit – One World TB Summit, Varanasi which was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apart from the Governors/Lt Governors, Union Health Ministers and top officials, 40 delegates from different countries participated at the Varanasi summit on World TB Day. 

Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati first felicitated the donors/Nikshay of the Nikshay Mitra program. After this, he addressed the audience. He opened his address by elaborating how India, under the leadership of the Prime Minister is committed to an ambitious target to eradicate TB in the country by 2024, 5 years before other countries set the target to achieve this goal. 

Governor shared the main aim of the PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a unique campaign of community engagement being used as a strategy to achieve the goal of India, without TB disease by 2025. He explained that PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign in which the government and civil societies joined hands to support TB patients in their recovery from the disease. He stressed the importance of voluntary donors for supporting the medical interventions by the government in the treatment of TB patients with nutritional support at Rs 650/- per month for each patient. Governor, who is supporting 20 TB patients for nutrition supply through Nikshay Mitra Program, appealed to more donors to come forward and participated in this noble mission.

He thanked the Health Ministers, elected representatives, and individual donors for their generosity in their nutritional support to TB patients. He appealed on behalf of 2000 plus patients afflicted by TB for more donations as there are now only 72 Nikshay/donors. He appealed for more donors to register themselves at : https://reports.nikshay.in/FormIO/DonorRegistration. Governor also appealed to the banking sectors to explore the possibility of assisting Nikshay Mitra in their respective areas. He also called for support from the NGOs in Mizoram, including the YMA, MHIP, and MUP which have active local branches throughout the State. 

Governor thanked the efforts given by the Health Department in this initiative. He urged them to increase their effort to make the state try to become the TB Free State as soon as possible. Governor suggested that if the state can achieve this milestone, it would be an important step to create a positive image of the state. He also believed that this achievement, if achieved, would improve the initiatives being taken up for diseases like Aids, Cancers, etc. Full speech the  of Governor: https://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/post/speech-of-dr-hari-babu-kambhampati-honble-governor-of-mizoram-on-the-occasion-of-world-tb-day-2023-at-conference-hall-assembly-annexe-on-24th-march-2023 

As reported, the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP)initiatives for 8 years shows some improvements in several indicators. As per 2022 statistics, the total number of all TB cases notified is 2081, and the success rate of treatment is consistently above 85% from 2015 and is now 87% in 2022. The number of patients with multi-drug resistance (MDR) put on treatment is 117 with the success rate in 2022 is 73%. The number of TB deaths recorded in 2022 is 74. 

The program commenced with the welcome address from Pi  Esther Lal Ruatkimi, Principal Secretary, H&FW Dept. After the address of the Chief Guest, Dr. Vanlalfela, State TB Officer presented the NTEP Achievement Report of Mizoram state. During the program, the chosen speaker from survivors of Tuberculosis was invited to share her journey to recovery from the disease. The program concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Eric Zomawia, Mission Director NHM.