According to WHO, 10 million people are afflicted with tuberculosis (TB) annually. Though both preventable and curable, 1.5 million people die every year, making TB the world’s leading infectious disease. In India, the current approach to TB prevention, care, and support is largely based on biomedical elements. While the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) provides targeted benefits and nutrition schemes like the ‘Nikshay Poshan Yojana’ that eases the structural barrier of stigma, discrimination, poor knowledge, lack of psycho-social support, and lack of patient-centric approach at medical facilities.

Karnataka Health Promotion Trust’s (KHPT) TB project, 2020-2024, is focused on employing socio-ecological approaches that recognize the structural and underlying barriers within specific vulnerable population groups such as miners, migrants, urban poor, tribals, tea-garden workers, etc.

The project is looking into involving Panchayati Raj Institutions as the sarpanch wields the power over the local community. The pradhans have the power to spread the accurate message and counter misconceptions and stigma to ensure TB care services are available to the last mile. The Gram Pradhans can use the village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee to raise TB-related issues in their monthly meetings. They will also be trained on treatment methods for TB to flag challenges related to TB services when needed.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/involve-communities-tb-elimination-is-a-peoples-agenda/92936471 )