Himachal has the best state in NTEP

The Himachal Herald, Shimla

In the programmatic intervention under the National Tuberculosis elimination program (NTEP), Himachal Pradesh has contributed the best in the country toward TB elimination. This year total of 8 districts of Himachal is awarded silver and 3 for Bronze medals toward the TB elimination effort.

Central TB Division, Government of India (NTEP Program) are awarded category-wise gold, silver, and bronze medals as per the guidelines to the states and districts who contribute their best in the space of Tuberculosis under Sub-National Certification every year.  Himachal Pradesh is performing best in India for the last 4 years.  This award was presented to Himachal by the Hon’ble Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya in a program organized in New Delhi on the occasion of World TB Day – 2022.

State Tuberculosis Officer (STO) Dr. Gopal Beri said that the Government of India has started the State and District level Sub National Certification Program to strengthen the efforts are being made to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025. For the year 2021-22, 12 districts were nominated for Sub National Certificate (SNC) in Himachal Pradesh. Post survey, among 12 districts, 8 districts (Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Lahaul Spiti, Una) are given silver medals while the remaining 3 districts; Chamba, Sirmaur, Solan are given bronze medals.

Further Dr. Beri added that the Himachal is being honored by the Union Health Ministry for doing good work in the field of TB in India for the last 4 years. In the past, Lahaul Spiti, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, and Kinnaur were awarded for their performance in the Sub National Certification (SNC).

Districts are selected for the award in 4 categories during Sub National Certification (SNC):

1.​TB free:

Districts with 80 per cent reduction in the number of TB patients in the current year from 2015 are declared TB freestates and districts by giving gold medals in this category.

2.​Gold:

States and districts that have reduced the number of TB patients by 60 per cent in the current year from 2015 are awarded gold medals in this category.

3.​Silver:

Districts having a 40 per cent reduction in the number of TB patients in the current year from 2015 are given silver medals in this category. NHM Himachal has awarded 8 districts (Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, LahaulSpiti, Una), all these districts have been selected for the Silver Award.

4.​Bronze:

Districts with a 20% reduction in the number of TB patients in the current year from 2015 are given bronze medals in this category. NHM Himachal had proposed Chamba, Sirmour, Solan for this year, bronze medals to all these districts.