New Delhi: The industry body FICCI has announced to adopt one lakh TB patients under the Tuberculosis (TB) Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which President Droupadi Murmu launched on September 9, 2022. It is aimed at reinvigorating the mission of TB elimination from the country by 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the clarion call to end TB in the country five years ahead of SDG target of 2030 at the Delhi End TB Summit in March 2018.

The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination. The President also launched the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative which forms a vital component of the Abhiyaan.

The Ni-kshay Mitra portal provides a platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment. The three-pronged support includes nutritional, additional diagnostic, and vocational support. The donors, called Ni-kshay Mitras, could be a wide range of stakeholders, including corporate houses and industry representatives.

Given the significance of this initiative, FICCI has committed to adopt one lakh TB patients through the collective capability of FICCI members and support the government by becoming Ni-kshay Mitras. This has been announced after a meeting with the Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, with the FICCI Health Services Leadership, said the industry body in a statement. /BI/