National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)
Context:
• A 19% increase was witnessed in 2021 from the previous year in TB patients’ notifications.
• The number of incident TB patients (new and relapse) notified during 2021 was 19,33,381 against the 16,28,161 in 2020, noted India TB Report 2022 was released recently.
Background:
• GOI has been fighting against this deadly disease since more than 50 years. The National TB programme was launched in 1962.
• During 2006–11, in its second phase RNTCP improved the quality and reach of services, and worked to reach global case detection and cure targets
• However, to eliminate TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, a framework to guide the activities of all stakeholders including the national and state governments, development partners, civil society organizations, international agencies, research institutions, private sector, and many others whose work is relevant to TB elimination in India is formulated by RNTCP as National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination 2017-2025.
• NSP TB elimination have been integrated into the four strategic pillars of “Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build”
About the disease:
• A potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.
• The bacteria that cause TB are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Most people infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis don’t have symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they usually include a cough (sometimes blood-tinged), weight loss, night sweats and fever.
• Treatment isn’t always required for those without symptoms. Patients with active symptoms will require a long course of treatment involving multiple antibiotics.
Source: THE HINDU.
