While in the country, TB (tuberculosis) treatment was moving from a sanatorium to a comprehensive program, at the Institute, it was the early days of establishment. It was a time when there used to be animated discussions between those trained in the west and those from the east. One of the earliest volunteer who joined Swamiji’s project was also a Chest specialist, so definitely TB was a topic at many meetings. By 1992, the Govt of India came up with the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) and today the goal is to achieve SDG End TB targets by 2025. This is being done noting that the challenge of tuberculosis requires a multi-sectoral response to address the social determinants like nutritional support, living and working conditions, and an increase in access to diagnosis and treatment services. Towards this end, an initiative that’s begun is Ni-kshay mitra (donor) to provide additional nutrition support and plug in gaps at community level.
We at the Institute have taken the responsibility to assist 1000 such people in a collaborative mode roping in those actively involved in the field. The beginning was made today where nutrition kits were provided to about 30 people. The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor shared their own life experiences while the Government representative said that the state is working to be TB free by 2024 itself. The community volunteers also shared their experiences. Starting with Doiwala and Rishikesh, this program will move on to include other areas.
