ANANTNAG, MARCH 24: To observe World TB Day 2026, the District TB Control Society Anantnag organized a formal function under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB” today at Mattan.
The event was attended by District Development Commissioner (DDC), Dr. Bilal Mohiud Din Bhat as Chief Guest and also witnessed participation by senior officials from administration and health including ADC, CMOs and DTOs Anantnag/Kulgam, BMOs besides Medical Superintendents, Medical Officers and filed staff.
On the occasion, the DDC formally launched the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Phase II, a 100-Day Intensified Campaign, which envisages community participation through Janbagidari. The phase focuses on intensified screening process, prioritizing high-load clusters and vulnerable populations across the district.
During the briefing, it was informed that the district will deploy AI-enabled handheld X-ray machines and upfront NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) to ensure early and accurate diagnosis, even for asymptomatic cases.
Addressing the function, the DDC emphasized that TB elimination is a social responsibility and called for a Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) by creating awareness and involving local stakeholders and community leaders to destigmatize and eliminate the disease.
Dr. Bilal reaffirmed the district administration’s commitment for supporting the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, ensuring that every patient receives consistent nutritional support and clinical care to improve treatment adherence.
Lauding the efforts of the health department in achieving significant milestones in TB notification, the DDC urged the field staff, including ASHA workers and Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHPs), to ensure that no cases remain active or untraced. This is the key responsibility of the health professionals including field staff along with the general public to make collective efforts for sustaining TB free status for the district, he remarked.
The event concluded with a pledge by all stakeholders to work tirelessly and contribute positively towards the National TB Elimination Programme.
