Port Blair, March 24: During the ‘One World TB Summit’ held in Varanasi today to commemorate the World TB Day 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI has awarded Gold Medal with Certificate for achieving more than 60% reduction in Tuberculosis incidence in the progress towards Tuberculosis Free Status to District of North & Middle Andaman, A&N Islands. The GoI has set the target of TB elimination by 2025 for which one of the criterion is reduction in the TB incidence by 80% when compared to the TB incidence in the year 2015. The Central TB Division, MoHFW has started a novel initiative to assess the progress of different Districts/States towards achieving TB Free status.

The Districts/States achieving more than 20%, 40% and 60% reduction in the TB incidence are eligible for award of Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal categories respectively.

The Districts/ States achieving 80% reduction in TB incidence when compared to the year 2015 are declared TB Free.

Along with felicitation at the national level, districts that register a 20% decline win Rs 200000 and a Bronze medal, those with 40% reductions receive Rs 300000 and a Silver medal, Rs 500000 and a Gold medal are awarded for 60% reduction, and Rs 1 million and TB Free Certificate are awarded for an 80% or more decline as compared to baseline of the year 2015, a press release from NTEP said.