The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the One World TB Summit at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi, today. He also launched various initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), the Family-centric care model for TB and the release of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the National Centre for Disease Control & High Containment Laboratory and inaugurated the site for the Metropolitan Public Health Surveillance Unit in Varanasi.
The Prime Minister also awarded select States/UTs and districts for their progress towards ending TB. The recipients of the awards were Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir on the State/UT level and The Nilgiris, Pulwama and Anantnag at the district level.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed delight that the One World TB Summit is taking place in Varanasi and noted that he is also a Member of Parliament from this city. He underlined that the city of Kashi is like an eternal stream that has witnessed the hard work and efforts of humanity for thousands of years. “No matter the obstacle, Kashi has always proved that new ways are created with ‘Sabka Prayas’ (everyone’s effort)”, he remarked. He expressed confidence that Kashi will usher new energy towards global resolutions in the fight against a disease like TB.
The Prime Minister highlighted that as a country, the reflection of India’s ideology can be seen in the spirit of Vasudev Kutumbakam i.e the whole world is one family. This ancient ideology, the Prime Minister said, is giving an integrated vision and integrated solutions to the advanced world of today. He noted that as the G20 President, India chose the theme of ‘One Family, One World, One Future’ based on such beliefs. “The theme of G20 is a resolution for the shared future of the entire world”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister noted that India is forwarding the vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’ in the world and underlined that it is realizing the resolutions of global good with the One World TB Summit.
The Prime Minister said that the commitment and determination with which India dedicated itself to tackling TB after 2014 is unprecedented. India’s efforts are important, the Prime Minister said, as this is a new model for the global war on TB. He elaborated on a multi-pronged approach against TB in the last 9 years. He listed people’s participation, enhancing nutrition, treatment innovation, tech integration and wellness and prevention such as Fit India, Yoga, and Khelo India type of interventions.
The Prime Minister informed about the tech integration in the TB Free India campaign. He said that Ni-kshay Portal and the use of data science are going a long way in this regard. He said that the Health Ministry-ICMR developed a new method for sub-national disease surveillance that has made India, apart from WHO, the only country to have this kind of model.
Noting the declining number of TB patients and today’s award to Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister mentioned another major resolution of India to eliminate TB by 2025 as against the global target of 2030. Referring to the capacity and health infrastructure enhancement during the pandemic, the Prime Minister underlined the high use of Trace, Test, Track, Treat and Technology, in the fight against the disease. “There is a massive global potential in this local approach of India”, he said emphasizing the need to collectively use that potential. He informed that 80 percent of TB medicines are made in India. “I would like that more and more countries get the benefit of all such campaigns, innovations and modern technology of India. All of the countries involved in this summit can develop a mechanism for this. I am sure, this resolution of ours will definitely be fulfilled – Yes, We can End TB”, the Prime Minister added.
Recalling the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi towards eliminating leprosy, the Prime Minister shared an incident when Gandhi Ji was called to inaugurate a leprosy hospital in Ahmedabad. He recalled that Gandhi ji told the people present on the occasion that he would be happy when he sees a lock hanging on the doors.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister underlined that India is engaged in the campaign to eradicate TB by making use of the nation’s experience, expertise and willpower. He also noted that India is constantly ready to help every country in need. “Our campaign against TB will be successful only with Sabka Prayas (everyone’s efforts). I believe, our efforts today will strengthen the foundation of our secure future, and we will be in a position to hand over a better world to our future generations”, the PM concluded.
