A nationwide tuberculosis (TB) case-finding campaign focusing on vulnerable populations has been launched in India, with the aim to improve TB detection rates at the early stages of disease.
A nationwide tuberculosis (TB) case-finding campaign focusing on vulnerable populations has been launched in India, with the aim to improve TB detection rates at the early stages of disease.
The campaign will work towards increasing awareness about the signs and symptoms of TB, as well as deploying health workers to go door-to-door with information and assistance in high-risk urban, rural and tribal areas.
The Central TB Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is implementing the drive. Call to Action for a TB-Free India is supporting the campaign by creating adverts and messages for TV, print, radio and digital media outlets to raise awareness of TB and the screening drive.
Bollywood superstar and TB-Free India's ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan, is the face of the media outreach and features in videos, newspaper advertisements and billboards. The ads have been translated into seven regional languages to make the information more accessible to groups across the country.
Phase one of the campaign has launched in 50 districts across 18 states and territories of India and will run through January. Future phases are planned to extend outreach efforts to additional areas and further intensify testing and treatment.
The Call to Action for a TB-Free India is an advocacy initiative working to create partnerships and mobilise efforts to end TB in India. It is part of the Challenge TB project funded by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by The Union South-East Asia Office.
Visit the TB-Free India Facebook page for more information.