Imphal: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla pushed for faster tuberculosis elimination this week. He gathered officials at Lok Bhavan in Imphal to review the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel and Health Commissioner Sumant Singh attended the briefing.
The Governor launched the Nikshay Mitra Manipur web portal, found at nikshaymitramanipur.com. It connects residents, officials, and groups with TB patients. Users register as Nikshay Mitras to donate nutritional food baskets and other vital supplies. This initiative falls under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Health Commissioner Sumant Singh reported major progress. The state increased screening and diagnostic work for vulnerable populations. Doctors now rely on better X-ray exams and NAAT testing. The department also bought AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices. These tools reach people in remote, hard-to-access areas. Officials credit these machines for improved treatment completion rates.
Looking ahead, the state will merge TB screening into other public health programs. They want more CSR partners to help fund nutritional support. Monitoring remains a top priority. Regarding the state's path to success, Sumant Singh noted, "The programme will focus on strengthening district-led implementation through regular reviews, expanding active case finding and preventive treatment, mobilising more Nikshay Mitras and CSR partners to provide nutritional support, integrating TB screening with other public health programmes, leveraging technology for improved diagnosis and monitoring, and enhancing community participation to accelerate Manipur's journey towards a TB-free State."
Governor Bhalla directed his team to keep the pressure on. He demanded better inter-departmental coordination to keep the momentum high.
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