{"id":39728,"date":"2025-03-24T19:13:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T13:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=39728"},"modified":"2025-03-24T19:13:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T13:43:50","slug":"tb-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-03-2025\/tb-champions","title":{"rendered":"TB Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Meghalaya <\/strong>government is pushing for a <strong>TB-free State<\/strong> by re-skilling TB survivors and bringing them back into control programmes as<strong> \u2018TB champions\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>TB Champions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A TB Champion is a person who has been <strong>affected by TB and successfully completed the treatment.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As survivors, they can provide <strong>valuable support to those with TB and their families.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NTEP has designed a <strong>standard sensitization and training curriculum <\/strong>for empowering TB survivors as TB Champions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>TB survivors themselves can access the self-learning modules available online.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Districts can coordinate with NTEP partners or local NGOs to conduct the training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cc9a8a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"742\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tb-champion.png\" alt=\"tb-champion\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-39729\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cc9a8a; width:464px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tb-champion.png 742w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tb-champion-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Tuberculosis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tuberculosis (TB) is an<strong> infectious disease<\/strong> that most often affects the lungs and is caused by the <strong>bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It spreads through the air when infected people <strong>cough, sneeze or spit.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symptoms:<\/strong> prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>While TB usually affects the lungs, it also affects the kidneys, brain, spine and skin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treatment:<\/strong> It is <strong>preventable and curable <\/strong>with antibiotics.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>TB Vaccine: The Bacillus Calmette-Gu\u00e9rin (BCG) vaccine<\/strong> remains the only licensed vaccine against TB; it provides moderate protection against severe forms of TB (TB meningitis) <strong>in infants and young children.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>TB in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>TB as a global health challenge:<\/strong> India has the <strong>highest TB burden in the world, <\/strong>contributing to<strong> 26% of the global burden and 29% of global TB-related deaths.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is followed by <strong>Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%), and Pakistan (6.3%).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Multidrug-Resistant TB:<\/strong> India represents 27% of the world\u2019s multi-drug-resistant TB cases, underscoring the need for specialized treatment approaches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised India&#8217;s progress, with a <strong>17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023<\/strong>, a rate more than double the global decline of<strong> 8.3%.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India&#8217;s goal is to <strong>eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025<\/strong>, five years ahead of the <strong>global target of 2030.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges Faced by India in Eliminating TB<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Drug-resistant TB cases:<\/strong> India has a significant burden of drug-resistant TB, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This type of TB is much harder to treat and requires more expensive, specialised drugs and a longer duration of treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diagnostics and Case Detection:<\/strong> The accurate and timely diagnosis of TB remains a challenge.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some areas lack access to modern diagnostic tools, leading to reliance on older methods with limitations.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Poor primary health-care and infrastructure: <\/strong>In many parts of India, especially in rural and remote areas, there is limited access to healthcare facilities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment, allowing TB to spread within communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stigma and Awareness:<\/strong> Stigma associated with TB lead to delays in seeking healthcare, and lack of awareness about the disease contribute to its persistence.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Private Sector Engagement: <\/strong>A significant portion of healthcare services in India is provided by the private sector.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coordinating efforts between the public and private sectors and ensuring standardized treatment protocols are crucial for effective TB control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Treatment Adherence:<\/strong> TB treatment requires a prolonged course of antibiotics, and ensuring patient adherence to the full course is challenging.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vulnerable Populations: <\/strong>Certain populations, such as migrant workers, urban slum dwellers, and those living in crowded conditions, are at higher risk of TB.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Steps Taken by Government of India to Eliminate TB<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP):<\/strong> The RNTCP, launched in <strong>1997,<\/strong> was the flagship program to control TB in India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The program has been continuously revised and strengthened over the years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP):<\/strong> The Government of India has developed a National Strategic Plan (2017-25) for Ending TB in the country by 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA): <\/strong>Launched in <strong>2022 <\/strong>for community support to TB patients with the objective to provide nutritional, diagnostic and vocational support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST): <\/strong>The government has scaled up efforts to provide universal access to drug susceptibility testing, helping to identify drug-resistant strains of TB early and tailor treatment accordingly.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Earlier, the patients were started on first line treatment and were tested for drug resistance only if the therapy did not work.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ni-kshay portal:<\/strong> An online Ni-kshay portal has been set up to track the notified TB cases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New Drugs: <\/strong>Newer drugs such as Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the treatment of drug-resistant TB have been included in the government\u2019s basket of drugs provided free TB patients.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>R&amp;D for Treatment:<\/strong> Researchers have been studying shorter three- and four-month courses of anti-tubercular drugs, instead of the existing six-month therapy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>V<\/strong><strong>accine Development:<\/strong> Trials are underway to test the effectiveness of a vaccine called Immuvac, which was initially developed to prevent leprosy, in preventing TB.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Researchers are also testing VPM1002, which is a recombinant form of the BCG vaccine modified to express the TB antigens better.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>World Tuberculosis Day 2025<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Commemorates: <\/strong>Dr. Robert Koch\u2019s discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on <strong>24th March 1882.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Objective: <\/strong>Raise awareness about the health, social, and economic impact of TB globally.<br>&#8211; <strong>2025 Theme: <\/strong>\u201cYes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.\u201d<br>&#8211; Focuses on renewed global commitment, financing, and action-oriented delivery to end <strong>TB by 2030 (as per SDG targets).<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/meghalaya-re-skills-tb-survivors-seeks-their-help-as-tb-champions\/article69364828.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Meghalaya government is pushing for a TB-free State by re-skilling TB survivors and bringing them back into control programmes as \u2018TB champions\u2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39728"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39731,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39728\/revisions\/39731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}