Odisha Screens 5.18 Lakh People, Distributes 28,348 Poshan Kits During 100-Day TB Drive

13 Jul 2026, 14:01 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Odisha’s drive to eliminate tuberculosis has yielded significant public health gains, with more than 5.18 lakh people screened for the disease and 28,348 Poshan Kits distributed to patients under the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 2.0. The initiative combined large-scale screening, preventive treatment, nutritional assistance and community mobilisation to strengthen the state’s TB control efforts.

Beyond identifying potential TB cases, the campaign also prioritised prevention. Officials said 9,013 household contacts of TB patients were placed on TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) to reduce the risk of future infections. Nutritional support, considered essential for successful recovery, was reinforced through the distribution of 28,348 Poshan Kits under the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative.

The campaign’s outreach depended heavily on public participation. Elected representatives, government officials, civil society organisations, community leaders, volunteers and educational institutions joined awareness programmes under the Jan Bhagidari initiative, helping expand public engagement and reduce the stigma associated with tuberculosis.

At the operational level, frontline healthcare personnel—including teams from District TB Centres, medical officers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) and partner organisations—worked across the state to ensure screening and awareness activities reached vulnerable and high-risk populations.

To widen access to diagnostic services, authorities organised 4,470 TB Screening Shivirs (health camps) in urban, rural and hard-to-reach regions. More than 3.44 lakh people attended these camps, which formed a major component of the overall screening effort that covered over 5.18 lakh individuals.

The initiative was implemented across all 30 districts from March 24 to July 5 under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). It was coordinated by the State TB Cell, operating under the Directorate of Public Health, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with district administrations, healthcare institutions, development partners and community organisations.

According to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the campaign demonstrated Odisha’s strategy of combining innovation, community participation and inter-sectoral coordination to accelerate progress towards tuberculosis elimination. The department also acknowledged the contributions of healthcare workers, district administrations, development partners, Ni-kshay Mitras, educational institutions, civil society organisations, the media and citizens for supporting the initiative.

With the 100-day drive concluding on July 5, the state government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining these interventions by strengthening timely diagnosis, ensuring quality treatment, expanding preventive care and providing comprehensive support as it works towards the national goal of eliminating tuberculosis.