PM ADDRESSES ONE WORLD TB SUMMIT IN VRARANASI

Prime Minister Shri Narendra D Modi addressed the One World TB Summit jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and the UN’S Stop TB Partnership in Varanasi on 24 March on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day.

It was in March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, that PM Modiji had called on India to achieve Tb-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the Medgate Today originally stipulated schedule. The One World TB Summit provided an opportunity to review progress made by India in achieving milestones as the country moves forward towards meeting its TB elimination objectives. It was also a forum for information exchange between participating medical health communities the world over, and learn from each others’ National TB Elimination Programmes. International delegates from more than 30 countries attended. In his address, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to ensuring a Tb-free society and fulfilling its other resolution of global good through the One World TB Summit. He said: “Kashi will usher new energy towards global resolutions in the fight against a disease like TB. India’s efforts are a new model for the global war on TB” and stated “People’s participation in the fight against TB is India’s big contribution”.

He went on to add that “India is now working on the target of ending TB by the year 2025” and outlined the various initiatives launched by his Government such as the Tb-mukt Panchayat programme; the official pan-india rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT); and the Family-centric care model for TB. He also released India’s Annual TB Report 2023.

The Prime Minister also awarded deserving States, UTS and districts that have made great strides in eradicating TB. He pointed out: “I would like that more and more countries get the benefit of all campaigns, innovations and modern technology of India”.