Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar underlined the need to ensure the participation of each and every individual in the TB eradication campaign in order to make the state tuberculosis free so that the target of 2023 could be achieved.

Addressing a two-day workshop organised at the State Health Training Center in Shimla on Wednesday, he said by achieving this goal, Himachal could emerge the first ‘Model State’ of the country, which would be a great achievement for all of us.

The workshop was attended by all the Chief Medical Officers, Senior Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers of Himachal Pradesh.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan on 9 September, 2022 and has set a target of making the country TB free by the year 2025. The way work was being done by the Health Department of the state and at the regional level was commendable.

Appreciating the efforts of the department, he said that as a result of these continuous efforts, Himachal could achieve the target of a TB-free state by the year 2023.

Himachal had also secured the first position in the country in the matter of Covid-19 vaccination, he added.

He said it was not only the responsibility of the Health Department, but every individual needs to come forward.

The Governor has held meetings on this subject in different districts of the State and emphasized on adopting patients personally.

He said that by adopting patients personally, understanding develops from them at a different level and they get more help.

All patients on treatment needed to be provided community support through Nikshay Mitra, he added.

The Nikshay Mitra would be corporate, individual politician, NGO’s, civil society and others. He directed all CMOs and field officers to monitor this component closely and ensure that all TB patients should get community support immediately after registration.

He disclosed that he himself was involved in this campaign and the work could be expedited by involving organizations like the Red Cross.

Emphasising identification of the patients under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, he said that it was not the responsibility of any one section but of the society to adopt them. He further stressed on the need to increase awareness in this direction.

While reviewing the National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP), the Governor said the primary goal of the programme was to detect the cases of leprosy at an early stage and to provide complete treatment free of cost, in order to prevent the occurrence of disabilities in the persons affected and stop the transmission of disease at the community level.

He said that leprosy was completely curable if the course of treatment was completed. He said that 141 patients of leprosy were under treatment in the state and such a small number could be easily cured.

The Governor also held discussions with all the Chief Medical Officers and Senior Medical Officers and they gave details of the activities being done at the district level and gave their valuable suggestions.