Gandhinagar, May 18 (IANS). The Gujarat government has taken a big step to make the treatment more effective under the ‘TB Free India Campaign’. The state government will now provide “ready-to-eat nutrition snacks” for six months to adult TB patients weighing less than 42 kg and all children below 14 years of age.
This announcement was made in the high-level review meeting held at Lok Bhawan on Monday. In the meeting, Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior officials reviewed TB control measures and future plans.
According to the state government, 100 new TrueNAT machines will be purchased to ensure 100 percent NAAT testing in talukas and high-affected districts during 2026-27. Apart from this, 333 portable hand-held X-ray machines will also be deployed for door-to-door screening of suspected TB patients.
Addressing the meeting, Governor Acharya Devvrat said that the TB eradication campaign in Gujarat will have to be given the form of a mass movement. He instructed the officials not to be negligent in TB control and to increase awareness about the disease among the people. Besides, emphasis was also laid on spreading awareness about drug de-addiction among TB patients.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed the officials that timely and better treatment should be provided to every TB patient through effective system.
The government said that TB testing and treatment is available free of cost in all sub-health centers and government hospitals in the state. At present, 2,351 microscopy centres, three TB culture labs, 74 CBNAAT machines and 386 TrueNAT machines are operating in Gujarat.
Officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department also presented information about future targets and preparations in the meeting.
‘TB Free India Campaign’ is a national campaign being run by the Central Government to eradicate tuberculosis across the country.
–IANS
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