According to the recently released report of ‘The Lancet’, India has the highest number of family population facing the risk of pulmonary TB tuberculosis in the world.
Key findings of the report
- India accounts for the largest proportion of total global TB cases (30%). It is followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria (2.5 million) and the Philippines.
- In the 20 countries with high burden of the disease, at least one person in 38 million households has pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Children in the family of a person with pulmonary TB are most vulnerable to TB.
About TB disease:
- This disease is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It mostly affects the lungs.
- It spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing or spitting.
- It usually affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB).
- Drug-resistant TB is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance worldwide and remains a public health threat.
India’s efforts to control TB
The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) is being conducted to eliminate TB by the year 2025, five years ahead of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global target of TB elimination by 2030.
NIKSHAY Portal
- Monitoring portal has been established under NTEP online notification of TB patients.
- Implementation of Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) is underway to provide financial assistance to TB patients for their nutrition.
Source – The Hindu
