In Mann Ki Baat, PM speaks efforts to eradicate TB
- Ahead of his state visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a special out-of-turn episode of Mann Ki Baat, where he sought the blessings of the citizens for the trip.
- Usually the episode was put out on the last Sunday of every month, but since he was travelling to the U.S., he wanted to speak to the people before that.
- Mr. Modi hailed the progress that is being made towards a tuberculosis free India by 2025.
- Nikshay Mitra programme, under which social organisations, villages, panchayats and individuals can “adopt” TB patients to help and support and remove the stigma.
About TB
- According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates in 2020, India has the world’s largest tuberculosis epidemic, accounted for 26% of the incident TB cases across the globe.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
