In a historic milestone that underscores India’s commitment to counter the menace of Tuberculosis (TB), Indian Oil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central TB Division (CTD) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH & FW), and the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to undertake intensified TB elimination project.

 The MoU bolsters Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to end Tuberculosis in India by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The agreement was inked in the presence of the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

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 On behalf of Indian Oil, Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director, HR, signed the MoU with Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Policy, MoH & FW, Dr Dharmendra Gahwai, State TB Officer, Chhattisgarh and Dr Shailendra Bhatnagar, State TB Officer, Uttar Pradesh.

 According to an official statement, this ambitious campaign will follow a multi-pronged approach to ensure early identification of presumptive TB and prompt detection using diagnostic tests at the doorstep. The drive also aims to offer sustainable and equitable access to free TB treatment, care, and support services to the people of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

 Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: “I compliment Indian Oil and its top leadership for not just taking the proactive initiative of signing this milestone MoU to fight Tuberculosis but bringing it to the point of concrete implementation. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been taking innovative steps in this direction, and now, with Indian Oil’s support, I am sure the mission against this disease will be taken forward with a firm determination and blueprint.”

 “This milestone is an affirmation of the Indian energy sector’s commitment to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to bolster India’s healthcare system. It is appreciable how the energy PSUs have been upholding that commitment by continuously leveraging their CSR outreaches to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure. This was aptly demonstrated during the

Covid-19 pandemic.”

 Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya applauded Indian Oil and both the states for their collective efforts to strengthen Prime Minister Modi’s mission to eliminate TB by 2025 and said: “Public partnerships and a holistic approach will be crucial to steer initiatives like TB eradication. I thank the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for their sustained contribution to nurturing affordable and accessible healthcare facilities through their CSR forays.”

 The Union Minister also appreciated the facilities that Indian Oil is extending to counter the spread of TB, like the introduction of mobile testing vans that can reach out to the remotest corners of the two states.

 Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director, HR, Indian Oil, remarked: “Indian Oil as India’s largest energy PSE, has always been going beyond business priorities to align with national commitments. Our resolve to strengthen national health infrastructure was at the forefront during the most ravaging phases of the Covid-19 pandemic when you will recall how Indian Oil realigned its business resources to shore up the medical oxygen support and enhance Covid-care infrastructure in the nation.”

 “We will now be pursuing the cause of TB-Mukt Bharat with missionary zeal. Endeavours like these reflect Indian Oil’s commitment to the mantra of ‘Pehle Indian, Phir Oil,” he said, adding that with this path breaking foray, Indian Oil has emerged as the first corporate to implement a large-scale Active Case Finding campaign (ACF) in all 75 districts of UP, covering approximately 10 per cent of its population once a year for three years.

 Under this project, Indian Oil will also introduce Mobile Medical Vans equipped with modern diagnostic technology in Uttar Pradesh. This would aid the diagnosis of TB in rural and remote areas and hard-to-reach communities, improving early case detection and treatment. Indian Oil is also introducing a cost-effective, diagnostic machine, Truenat, which will improve access and availability of TB diagnostic services in remote tribal areas.

 Indian Oil will provide these machines in all Tuberculosis Units of the 8 Aspirational Districts of UP – Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar and Sonbhadra, and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the state of Chhattisgarh.

 Moreover, the company will provide handheld X-ray Units in UP covering all 18 State Headquarters and 8 Aspirational Districts. Xray Units will also be provided in 5 Divisions of Chhattisgarh. TB is considered the world’s top infectious killer and infects about 10 million people yearly, killing almost 1.5 million and India has about one-fourth of the global TB cases annually.