THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala received the Union government’s award for best TB eradication programme. The award is in recognition of the state’s efforts to coordinate the National TB Eradication programme in the private sector, Health Minister Veena George said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kerala recorded the highest number of registrations of TB patients from the private sector on the Nikshay portal. The number of registrations rose from 4,615 in 2019 to 6.542 in 2023.
Veena George said the government has set a target to make Kerala a TB-free state by 2025 with the support of the private sector. The government conducts TB-free panchayat programmes with the support of local self-governments.
The state has 330 System for TB Elimination in Private Sector (STEP) centres. They connect people coming for TB treatment at private hospitals with the public health system. This is a state project offering detection, treatment and high-quality medicines.
Nutrition food kits are given to TB patients utilising CSR funds. Cochin Shipyard and KIMS Hospitals are providing funds in Ernakulam, Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
Efforts are being taken to distribute kits in other districts with the support of State Bank of India and some private organisations.