Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 3: A review meeting to assess the progress of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was held on 3rd September, 2025, under the chairmanship of Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman) in the Conference Hall of the DC Office. The meeting witnessed the participation of Programme Officials, Medical Officers In-charge (MO I/cs) of District Hospital, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Urban Health Centres, along with field functionaries of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
The Deputy Commissioner acknowledged the sustained efforts of the Medical Officers and field-level teams in implementing the activities under the ongoing campaign. He noted with appreciation that 72.43% of the screening target had already been achieved, which reflects the seriousness and commitment of the health machinery at every level. While appreciating this achievement, the Deputy Commissioner urged the health teams to accelerate the pace of work and directed that all pending X-ray and NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) investigations be cleared at the earliest. He highlighted that timely testing and confirmation of cases are critical to prevent delay in treatment initiation and to break the chain of transmission.
The Deputy Commissioner also underlined that screening alone cannot achieve the objective of TB elimination. He emphasized the need for ensuring prompt treatment initiation, strict adherence to the prescribed regimen and full course completion by patients, as these remain the cornerstones of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. He instructed Programme Officials and Medical Officers to put in place robust mechanisms for treatment follow-up, counselling of patients and their families and community-level awareness generation, to counter stigma and enhance compliance.
He further stressed on the importance of inter-departmental coordination and convergence with other line departments, such as Education, Rural Development and Social Welfare, for creating a supportive ecosystem for TB patients. Special emphasis was laid on community engagement, with the Deputy Commissioner calling upon NGOs, Self Help Groups, Panchayati Raj Institutions and civil society to actively participate in spreading awareness, supporting TB patients, and promoting nutritional support through schemes like Nikshay Poshan Yojana.
The meeting also discussed the need for sustained monitoring and periodic review at every level, including village, block and district, to ensure that gaps in service delivery are addressed promptly and real-time progress is tracked effectively.
Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner reiterated the Administration’s commitment to achieving the vision of a TB-free South Andaman well ahead of the national target year. He called upon all stakeholders to remain proactive, committed and united in their efforts, so that South Andaman can emerge as a model district in the fight against tuberculosis.