Over 7 lakh TB cases detected in 100-day drive, PM Modi stresses need for cleanliness and early detection

In a powerful review meeting held at his residence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought Tuberculosis (TB) back into national focus. While India has been pushing hard to eliminate TB by 2025, a recent 100-day campaign revealed the magnitude of the challenge ahead—over 7.19 lakh TB cases were detected, including 2.85 lakh who showed no symptoms at all.


These numbers aren’t just statistics—they are stories of people who didn’t even know they were carrying a potentially deadly infection. And yet, they were found because the system went looking for them. That, in itself, says something about the scale and seriousness with which India is now taking TB.



PM Modi's message: TB elimination is a team effort, not a solo mission

At the core of PM Modi’s message was this: India cannot fight TB with medicine alone. It needs public participation—Jan Bhagidari. The Prime Minister applauded the over one lakh new Ni-kshay Mitras who stepped up during the campaign. These are volunteers—regular citizens, organisations, even corporations—who support TB patients by providing nutrition, emotional help, or sometimes just a human connection.


PM Modi called this a model for how public health campaigns should be run—not from boardrooms, but with people at the centre.


Over 7 lakh cases found: What the numbers really mean

During the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, 12.97 crore vulnerable individuals were screened. Out of them, over 7 lakh were found to be TB positive. At first, this sounds alarming. But here’s the truth behind the numbers: more detection means more lives can be saved.


Especially noteworthy was the discovery of 2.85 lakh asymptomatic cases. These individuals didn’t show symptoms but were silently spreading the disease. By catching them early, the campaign didn’t just help those individuals—it broke chains of infection that could have gone unchecked.



What cleanliness has to do with TB

The Prime Minister didn’t mince words when he linked cleanliness to TB prevention. While TB is an airborne disease, living in unclean environments—especially in crowded, poorly ventilated urban areas—makes people more vulnerable. Workers in the construction, mining, and textile sectors often live and work in such conditions.


Modi urged officials to analyse patterns—where do most patients come from? What jobs do they do? This way, resources can be directed where they’re needed most. Clean surroundings, better ventilation, and access to toilets may sound basic, but they are frontline defences against TB.


Numbers that encourage: WHO recognises India’s progress

In the same meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted an important endorsement: the WHO Global TB Report 2024. It confirmed that India has managed an 18% drop in TB incidence, from 237 cases per 1 lakh people in 2015 to 195 in 2023. TB deaths have also reduced by 21%.


These are not just technical wins—they show that with consistent effort, strategies are working. And yet, with lakhs still getting infected, complacency is a risk India cannot afford.