President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that TB causes the largest number of deaths among all other infectious diseases in India and called upon all to remove the stigma associated with the disease in the country. She also urged all to raise awareness and those affected by the disease to avail free prevention and treatment facility provided by the government.
Calling upon all citizens during the virtual launch of Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on Friday to make the campaign a mass movement, Murmu pointed out that TB causes the largest number of deaths among all other infectious diseases in India.
Expressing concern that India has a little less than 20 per cent of the world's population, but has more than 25 per cent of the total TB patients of the world, she noted that most of the people affected by TB come from the poor section of society.
The President also said that in some patients or communities, there is an inferiority complex associated with this disease, and they view the disease as a stigma.
"This illusion also has to be eradicated. Everyone should be aware that TB germs are often present in everyone's body. When the immunity of a person, due to some reason, decreases, then this disease expresses in the person. With treatment, one can definitely get rid of this disease," she said.
All these awareness must reach the people so that people affected by TB can take advantage of the treatment facilities available.
"People have to be informed that prevention of this disease is possible. Its treatment is effective and accessible and the government provides a free of cost facility for prevention and treatment of this disease," Murmu said.
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030. But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution, she said.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination, according to the President Secretariat.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Governors and Lt. Governors of states and UTs, representatives from State and District Health Administration and other stakeholders attended the event.
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