BARAMULLA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, today chaired a meeting of the District TB Forum to review the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) and to chart out a roadmap for achieving TB-Free status across the district.

During the meeting, DC issued a series of key directives aimed at strengthening surveillance, patient care, and public awareness. He stressed that all TB patients must be regularly assessed by designated Medical Officers for treatment adherence, monitoring of adverse drug reactions, and follow-up care.

In a major step under the Nikshay Mitra initiative, DC directed that all district officers will adopt at least one TB patient, supporting them with nutritional basket kits and necessary amenities to aid in their recovery and well-being.

Aiming for ambitious progress, Sherpa stressed that all Panchayats in Baramulla must be declared TB-Free by November 2025. He emphasized intensified screening, presumptive testing, and early detection across all health blocks.

To ensure early diagnosis, the forum also discussed the procurement of CBNAAT machines to enhance testing capabilities at peripheral health institutions.

DC called upon all departments, especially ICDS, School Education, Anganwadi Workers, and ASHA Workers, to actively participate in identifying preventive cases and spreading awareness about TB symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

He reaffirmed the administration's commitment to a ‘TB Mukt Bharat,' encouraging collective action and consistent monitoring to eliminate tuberculosis from every household and every village.