New Delhi: “Health is the ultimate wealth,” said Paralympian and Padma Shri Deepa Malik as she urged the citizens to participate in the TB-Mukt (Tuberculosis) Bharat campaign and help achieve the vision of TB-free India by 2025, three years prior to the global goal of eradicating TB by 2030. While addressing a gathering during her visit to the Ayushman Bhav Health Pavilion at the 42nd India International Trade Fair (IITF) on Wednesday (November 22), Ms Malik requested people to pledge allegiance to become Ni-kshay Mitra to at least one TB patient so as to expedite the process of establishing a TB-free nation. Ni-kshay Mitra portal has been created for individuals to register themselves and adopt TB patients to take care of them. Ms Malik said,
Every citizen should pledge to become Ni-kshay Mitra to at least one TB patient to accelerate our journey towards becoming a TB-free nation.
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Deepa Malik is the national ambassador of the TB Mukt Bharat campaign and a Ni-kshay Mitra herself. She had adopted 10 TB patients earlier this year, all of whom are now doing well and cured of the disease, the Paralympian informed.
As a Nikshay Mitra, extremely proud to be a part of such an amazing and purposeful initiative at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. I pledge to support Hon. PM @narendramodi ji in his vision of TB mukt Bharat. Let’s all come together to safeguard the health of our nation! Let’s #EndTB pic.twitter.com/4vtfGrKZPm
— Deepa Malik PLY (@DeepaAthlete) November 23, 2023
She also recounted her story of becoming a TB survivor, emphasising that while the treatment is physical, the first step of recovery commences with mental well-being, focusing on maintaining a positive mindset and rising above the stigma surrounding this condition.
Reiterating that treatment is fully possible and accessible at various TB centres, Ms Malik urged patients to complete their treatment in its entirety and not be discouraged by the duration and effects of the disease.
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Looking at India’s progress in TB eradication, the country has recorded a reduction in the TB incidence by 16 per cent in 2022 (from 2015), almost double the pace at which global TB incidence is declining (which is 8.7 per cent) while the mortality of TB has also reduced by 18 per cent during the same period in India and globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global TB (Tuberculosis) Report 2023.
The key initiatives launched and scaled up by the government like specialised active case finding drives, scaling up of molecular diagnostics to block levels, decentralization of screening services through Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres and private sector engagement have resulted in significantly bridging the gap in missing cases, the report had stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
