World TB Day: MP's 100-Day TB Drive Detects 19,000 New Cases, Raising Concerns Over 2025 Eradication Goal

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a 100-day tuberculosis (TB) detection drive across Madhya Pradesh, 19,000 new cases have been identified, raising concern about the state’s ability to meet its 2025 TB-free target. The campaign, set to conclude on Monday, has also led to 5,000 gram panchayats being declared TB-free. Districts with high TB prevalence, especially among tribal population, include Jabalpur, Sheopur and Gwalior, along with regions in the Gwalior and Indore divisions.

Districts in Gwalior and Indore divisions have a high concentration of blocks with wholly or partially tribal populations, which are areas with a higher TB burden. Other districts with tribal populations like Dindori, Katni, Jhabua, Barwani, and Seoni also have some prevalence of the TB disease. The Saharia tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), has one of the highest pulmonary TB rates in the state- particularly in Gwalior and Chambal divisions. In response, ICMR-NIRTH, in collaboration with the state government, has launched an intensified TB control project targeting this community.

Expert speak

Dr Manoj Verma, a TB specialist, said that the mission to eliminate TB by 2025 is facing setbacks. “Many patients in remote areas avoid seeking medical help, making detection difficult. We have launched a drive to trace the patients, it is a major challeng though. The WHO set a global TB eradication target for 2030, but India aimed for 2025—this timeline now seems unrealistic,” he said.

Highlighting the campaign’s achievements, State TB officer Srimiti Singh told Free Press, “We launched 100-day campaign which will conclude on Monday. We detected 19,000new patients in Madhya Pradesh.Mobile vans equipped with ICMR-provided X-ray machines conducted door-to-door screenings. We detected 19,000 new cases, and all patients are now receiving six-month treatments with medicine and food packets5,000 Gram Panchayat have been made TB Free.”