NEW DELHI, March 22: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday emphasized the importance of early diagnosis for effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB), ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24.
The Ministry urged individuals to recognize the signs of tuberculosis early, noting that symptoms like a persistent cough lasting two weeks or more, night sweats, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and blood in sputum should not be ignored and should prompt immediate testing.
The Ministry also shared an infographic on social media highlighting the symptoms of pulmonary or lung TB. TB remains a significant health concern globally, with India accounting for 26% of the global burden of TB cases. According to the WHO Global TB Report 2024, India has made significant progress with a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, more than twice the global average. Additionally, TB-related deaths have reduced by 21.4% over the same period.
Despite this progress, India reported 28 lakh TB cases in 2024 and an estimated 3.15 lakh TB-related deaths, making up nearly 29% of the global TB-related deaths. India is aiming to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. The Ministry launched a 100-day campaign in December 2024 to accelerate efforts towards this goal, focusing on 347 high-priority districts across 33 states and Union Territories.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda recently stated that the campaign has already detected 5 lakh TB patients and is fully aligned with long-term strategies for TB elimination, which include prevention, early detection, prompt treatment, and reducing TB-related mortality.
