CSR Intervention Critical to Reduce India’s Tuberculosis Burden
Aiming to fast-track India’s goal to end tuberculosis (TB), the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) Foundation hosted a conference on 2 February in Bengaluru inviting the corporate social responsibility (CSR) heads of India’s leading companies to join the Call to Action for a TB-Free India.
On April 23 last year, the Government of India launched the Call to Action for a TB-Free India to engage the corporate sector to further strengthen the ongoing efforts to reduce the incidence of TB in the country. The nationwide campaign seeks to leverage Indian companies’ CSR spending, made mandatory under the Companies Act 2013.
At the conference, a panel consisting of Ms Sheena Chhabra, Team Lead, Health Systems Strengthening at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Ms Kavita Ayyagari, Project Director – Challenge TB at The Union South-East Asia (The Union); Ms Blessina Kumar, Chair – Global Coalition of Tuberculosis Activists (GCTA) and patient advocate; and Dr Anil S, State Technical Officer, Karnataka, exchanged ideas on how corporate involvement can reduce the burden of tuberculosis in India.
India reports the highest number of deaths from TB anywhere in the world. An estimated 2.2 million cases are reported annually, 220,000 of which prove fatal. These numbers significantly increase after taking into account drug-resistant TB cases and HIV+TB cases, which are much more complicated to treat and have a higher mortality rate.
Highlighting the role of CSR to meaningfully address India’s TB epidemic, Ms Chhabra said, “The Government of India and USAID are committed to making India TB-free. However, none of us alone can make this happen. To tackle a problem of this magnitude, we need a multi-sectoral approach in which partners, both public and private, work collectively to achieve this ambitious yet attainable goal. Ending TB in India will ensure a healthier and more productive future for all of us.”
Ms Kumar added: “The poor are the most vulnerable to this fatal infection and often lack access to healthcare, quality nutrition and funds for treatment, which is prolonged.”
Commenting on the need for private sector’s support to end one of the deadliest diseases in India, Ms Ayyagari, said, “Given India’s socio-economic and geographic disparities, our strategy to end TB must address several aspects simultaneously. These include increasing disease awareness, improving detection and diagnosis of TB cases, providing access to quality healthcare services, ensuring patients follow through with treatment, strengthening public-private partnerships and removing the stigma associated with the disease. The corporate community has at its disposal a range of resources and solutions that can considerably reduce the prevalence of TB in India.”
Announcing the “TB Missed Call” initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare early this year, wherein TB patients can seek information, counselling and treatment support by dialing a toll-free number, Dr Anil S said, “The government has undertaken several other initiatives to improve TB diagnosis and treatment in India, but support from other partners, particularly from organisations through their CSR initiatives is the need of the hour.”
The next CSR Leadership Conference organised to support the Call to Action campaign will be held on 9 March 2016 in New Delhi. The Call to Action for a TB-Free India is funded by Challenge TB, the USAID’s flagship TB control programme. The Union South-East Asia Office in New Delhi has been tasked to implement the Challenge TB project in India.