A meeting with Additional Heads of Departments (AHoDs) and Heads of Departments (HoDs) on the 100-day tuberculosis (TB) elimination campaign was held at the Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima. The campaign, which is part of the nationwide initiative ‘TB Mukt Bharat,’ aims to eliminate TB through collaboration with all line departments in Nagaland.
Chief Secretary, Dr J Alam, IAS, gave the opening remarks, emphasizing that the 100-day campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is being implemented across the country. Dr Alam noted that a total of 347 districts were selected for the campaign, including three high-incidence districts in Nagaland—Kohima, Mon, and Wokha.
Dr Alam urged all line departments to intensify outreach and awareness efforts to ensure the campaign’s success. He also emphasized the importance of involving Deputy Commissioners (DCs), civil society organizations, church leaders, and other influential figures to devise effective strategies and achieve the targeted outcomes.
Commissioner & Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Anoop Khinchi, IAS, highlighted TB as India’s biggest public health challenge, responsible for the highest number of deaths from infectious diseases. He shared that Nagaland currently has about 3,843 TB patients, while across India, there are an estimated 2.8 million new cases annually, contributing to 26% of the global TB burden.
Anoop Khinchi also discussed the link between undernutrition and TB, noting that undernutrition increases the risk of developing TB, while TB exacerbates undernutrition due to tissue breakdown. He stressed that addressing malnutrition among TB patients improves treatment outcomes, reduces mortality, and supports long-term recovery.
The 100-day campaign, launched on December 7, 2024, aims to reduce TB-related deaths, prevent new cases, and increase case detection. It also focuses on expanding nutritional interventions and raising community awareness about the importance of early detection and complete treatment. Anoop emphasized the role of community participation in combating the stigma associated with TB, urging all line departments to support the campaign and strengthen collaborative efforts to eliminate TB in the state.
To mark the launch, Chief Secretary Dr J Alam administered the ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ pledge. State TB Officer for the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), Dr Vezokholu Theyo, presented a detailed PowerPoint overview of the 100-day campaign.
