Under the guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami and Hon’ble Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, the TB elimination program has been successfully implemented: Swati S. Bhadauria.
On the occasion of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Uttarakhand was honored at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, for its outstanding performance in TB elimination through community-based efforts under the “TB Mukt Panchayat Initiative.”
This prestigious award was presented by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, to the Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Uttarakhand, Ms. Swati S. Bhadauria. This honor reflects the Uttarakhand government’s dedicated commitment at the grassroots level towards the elimination of tuberculosis.
**Presence of senior officials in the program**
This high-level program, organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, witnessed the participation of the Health Secretary, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Mission Directors of NHM from various states, officials from the Central TB Division, senior officials from various ministries, and key stakeholders involved in TB elimination from different states.
**National-level recognition for Uttarakhand**
This achievement by Uttarakhand has boosted the morale of the state’s health department and frontline health workers. This initiative will serve as a significant milestone in achieving the goal of TB elimination in the future.
Swati S. Bhadauria, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, stated that under the guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami and Hon’ble Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, the Tuberculosis Elimination Program is being successfully implemented, as a result of which Uttarakhand has been honored at the national level by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Expressing happiness over this honor, the Mission Director said that this achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the state government, the health department, local administration, ASHA workers, Panchayati Raj institutions, social workers, and the community. She stated that under the “TB-Free Panchayat Initiative,” special efforts have been made to ensure widespread awareness at the grassroots level, rapid identification, better treatment, and active community participation. An effective tracking system and a multi-sectoral approach are being adopted in the state for TB elimination.
She further stated that TB elimination in Uttarakhand has been adopted as a people’s movement, where gram panchayats have been empowered to monitor and control TB cases at their level. Through the “Nikshay Mitra Yojana,” private organizations, public representatives, and social workers have been involved, providing patients with nutritional and social support.
