Sri Vijaya Puram, July 4: In continuation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan aimed at eliminating tuberculosis from the region, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman, chaired a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social associations, banks, religious groups and clubs to encourage these organizations to register as Nikshay Mitras under the Nikshay Mitra Yojana, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman emphasized the critical role of community participation in achieving the vision of a TB-free Islands. He underscored the importance of public-private collaboration and urged all stakeholders to extend their active support by adopting TB patients and contributing to their nutritional and emotional well-being. The Nikshay Mitra initiative offers a unique opportunity for civil society to directly impact the lives of TB patients by supporting them throughout their treatment journey.
Further, the District Programme Manager, DHS (SA), provided an overview of the Nikshay Mitra Yojana, explaining how organizations and individuals can adopt patients by providing nutritional kits, vocational support and moral encouragement. The District Administration assured complete coordination and facilitation for all those willing to join the initiative. Interested organizations and individuals can visit https://communitysupport.nikshay.in to enrol as Nikshay Mitras.
Representatives from various NGOs, charitable organizations, banks, religious groups and local clubs expressed their interest and commitment to becoming Nikshay Mitras. The Senior Govt. Officials, several organizations and individuals have already pledged initial support, marking a promising start toward inclusive and community-driven TB eradication efforts in South Andaman. This momentum now needs to be further strengthened by encouraging more organizations and individuals to come forward and join as Nikshay Mitras.