The Government has roped in mega star Amitabh Bachchan for its tuberculosis awareness campaign programme to help eradicate the deadly disease which inflicts almost 9 lakh people in the country annually. More than 3,00,000 persons perish from the disease every year. Over 23 lakh people are suffering from the disease in the country.
launching nationwide “TB Harega, Desh Jeetega” campaign, featuring Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that although there have been many challenges, the Ministry through the Revised National TB Control programme (RNTCP) has been able to achieve significant achievements in terms of treating people and saving precious lives.
“We have faced challenges, we have done pretty good and we have to do good. This is a continuous process. Challenge is in continuation and the answer should also be in continuation. New innovations continue to take place. We have to be consistently vigilant and fighting against these disease,” he said at an event to mark the World Tuberculosis Day.
The Minister also launched the website of the National TB Control Programme and the project on “Innovative-intensified TB cases finding and appropriate treatment at high burden ART Centres in India.” He further released the RNTCP Annual Report 2015 along with the special issue on TB of the Global Policy Journal.
According to the annual report, a total of 87,83,551 TB suspects were examined of which 14,43,942 were registered for the treatment of the disease. Bachchan, who was unable to attend the event, sent a special message reaffirming his support to the campaign against the disease he himself had battled in 2000.