Nagaland University Launches Tuberculosis Awareness Campaign

Kohima: Nagaland University held a tuberculosis awareness and screening drive at I. Ihoshe Kinimi Hall in Lumami on September 22. The event operated under the federal government TB Free India 100 Day Campaign 2026. Experts aimed to boost early detection and push back against social stigma.

Prof. Joy Das, the university finance officer, told the audience that scholars hold a duty to help their communities. He explained that people recognize the name but lack knowledge on symptoms and cures. "The University has the responsibility not only to impart academic knowledge but also to create awareness about important social programmes to make society a better place," he said.

Dr. Toshimenla Jamir, the resource person from the Mokokchung district office, detailed the staggering impact of the disease. India carries the world's highest TB burden, housing one fourth of all global cases. Over 40 percent of the Indian population is infected with the bacteria. The nation detects 27 lakh new cases every year, leading to nearly four lakh deaths annually. That is 1,400 deaths every single day.

The disease hits children hard, affecting 2.2 lakh of them yearly. Jamir called for better funding and a unified effort from governments, researchers, and youth to change the trajectory. India continues to push a strategy of detecting, treating, preventing, and building infrastructure to meet a 2030 elimination target. The university session closed with on-site screenings to catch new cases early.