Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
India has the world’s highest tuberculosis (TB) burden, with an estimated 26 lakh people contracting the disease and approximately 4 lakh people dying from the disease every year. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is implementing an ambitious National Strategic Plan with the goal to achieve SDG End TB targets by 2025.
For effective engagement of the community in the path towards ending TB in India, MoHFW is implementing the “Community Support to TB patients - Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan".
Objectives:
Provide additional patient support to improve treatment outcomes of TB patients Augment community involvement in meeting India’s commitment to end TB by 2025 Leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.Scope:
1. The Ni-kshay Mitra shall provide additional support to all the on-treatment TB patients who have given consent for support, in the selected health facilities /blocks/urban wards/districts/states.
2. Only individual Ni-kshay Mitra can choose patients from a given health facility. The other Ni-kshay Mitras have to choose the entire geographical unit (blocks/urban wards/districts/states).
3. The type of additional assistance that may be provided by the Ni-kshay Mitra to on-treatment TB patients who have given consent for support shall include the following:
a. Nutritional support b. Additional investigations for the diagnosed TB patients c Vocational support d Additional nutritional supplements e. The minimum period of commitment for providing additional support to the TB patient shall be from six month to one year.Expected Output:
1. This initiative will increase the active involvement of society in the fight against tuberculosis.
2. This activity aims at increasing awareness among the public regarding tuberculosis.
3. Involvement of the community in supporting the treatment cascade shall also help in the reduction of stigma.
4. Provision of additional support to the TB patient shall also result in the reduction of the out-of-pocket expenditure for the family of the TB patient.
5. Ultimately improved nutrition for the TB patient shall result in better treatment outcomes.