Page 62 - Mann Ki Baat September 2022

TB-Free India Campaign: Duty of Every Citizen

Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his a TB patient gets proper nutrition,
recent 'Mann ki Baat' address, medicines, and care, s/he can
mentioned about the 'Ni-Kshay lead a healthy life. We have set a
Mitra' initiative launched under target of 1,000 people, and these
TB-Free India campaign. He said include both children and adults.
that Jan Bhagidari and a sense of There are also patients who suffer
duty in every citizen is the basis from Multidrug-Resistant TB. We
of this campaign. Several people have also adopted the Prime
are voluntarily becoming a part Minister's target of making India
of this initiative and adopting TB TB-free by 2025.”
patients to meet India’s goal of Nalin Joshi, the managing
eradicating TB by 2025. trustee of Diwaliben Trust based
One such person is Priyanka in Bardoli, Gujarat, says, “We are
Priyadarshini. She says, “I started working with the Government
following the programme 'Mann to help TB patients. We were
ki Baat' during the COVID-19 contacted by the authorities of
lockdown. In his address on 25 the local Primary Health Centre
th
September, the Prime Minister and were told that we should
appealed to the countrymen to boost the ongoing efforts of the
take a pledge to make India TB- Government. They asked us to
free, so I also thought that I should provide protein-based immunity
th
contribute in a big way. On 8 boosters so that TB patients
October, I adopted five patients can recover faster. We are now
from Vijayanagar TB Unit Centre, ensuring that 100 TB patients get
Ghaziabad to provide them these boosters regularly for a
with nutritional support. I have year, free of cost. We hope that
resolved that I will extend my full just like us, other NGOs will also
support to these patients during come forward and support the
their treatment.” Prime Minister’s TB-free India
Dr. Deepak Bhargava of Campaign."
Rotary Club, Indirapuram says, “If

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