At a Government of India and World Health Organization event in New Delhi this week, India’s Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda launched new initiatives to challenge tuberculosis (TB) in India – including a radio campaign developed by The Union as part of the TB-Free India campaign.
The radio adverts feature international Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, who having survived TB himself now calls for everyone in India to unite and pledge to End TB. In the advert he says:
“I had it. I defeated it. I believe we all have a role to play to make India TB Free.”
The radio campaign is just one part of the Call to Action for a TB-Free India, which aims to increase the visibility of TB and mobilise domestic resources and commitment to end TB nationwide. The government is promoting this campaign on a nation-wide scale.
Earlier this month, five corporate organisations committed their support for the TB -Free India campaign with plans to launch CSR and workplace interventions targeting marginalised communities such as prisoners, miners, migrant workers and slums dwellers.
These important commitments to end TB came from:
- NTPC - who plan to extend TB diagnostic services to Central jails
- Jubilant – who are planning a number of workplace interventions
- Johnson & Johnson – who have plans to support systematic screening for active TB case in Mines
- TCI Foundation – who plan to support systematic screening for active TB case in truckers and transport workers
- DLF Foundation – who plan to include rapid TB diagnostics in their health centres as well as creating more awareness of TB.
The above is a vital step to increase domestic commitment and foster private-public collaboration that will lead the way for a TB Free India.
Both these initiatives were made possible by The Union Challenge TB project that is mandated to increase visibility and stakeholder engagement on TB. TB-Free India is funded by Challenge TB, the flagship TB control programme of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Union implements this initiative in India through The Union South-East Asia Office in New Delhi.
Follow @forTBfreeIndia on twitter to see tweets from this event and more.