Deputy Commissioner of Mandya Kumar said that the number of tuberculosis cases in the district was declining steadily.
Presiding over a district-level Tuberculosis Forum Meeting in Mandya on Monday, Mr. Kumar said that a total of 710 patients were undergoing treatment for tuberculosis in the district at present.
Expressing satisfication over the steady decline in the number of cases in the district year after year, Mr. Kumar said that tuberculosis cases had seen a 20% reduction between 2015 and 2022. The Central Tuberculsosis Division had awarded Mandya district a bronze medal in 2022, he pointed out.
While directing the officials to take all necessary measures to eradicate tuberculosis in the district, Mr. Kumar said that free screening was being conducted for diabetics, smokers, cancer patients, elderly persons, children, and those suffering from malnutrition, besides others showing symptoms of tuberculosis.
Mandya district currently has four CBNAAT (Cartridge-based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) machines, which can detect tuberculosis within just two hours, using a patient’s sputum sample, Mr. Kumar said.
For patients confirmed with tuberculosis, the ASHA workers provide free medication for six months and ensure that patients take their prescribed doses regularly. By taking the medicine for at least ten days, one can prevent the infection from spreading to others, the Deputy Commissioner said, while emphasising the need for patients suffering from tuberculosis to stay in well-ventilated places and wear masks.
Under the Centre’s ‘Nikshay Poshan Yojana’, tuberculosis patients receive ₹ 1,000 per month to support their nutritional needs, he said.
Mr. Kumar said that efforts were under way to create tuberculosis-free gram panchayats in the district every year. “Villages with few tuberculosis cases that meet the specific criteria are recognised as tuberculosis-free villages,” he said.
A total of 16 gram panchayats were declared as tuberculosis-free in 2023, while 41 gram panchayats received the tag in 2024. An estimated 67 gram panchayats were expected to be recognised as tuberculosis-free this year, he said, while suggesting that efforts should be made to declare an entire taluk as tuberculosis-free.
TB Champions
Mr. Kumar advised people, who had successfully recovered from tuberculosis, to act as ‘TB Champions’ by spreading awareness and motivating current patients to complete their course of treatment.
He also encouraged people to use social media platforms to raise public awareness about tuberculosis.
Mandya district Family Welfare Officer K. Mohan, District Tuberculosis Eradication Officer Ashalatha and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Published – October 28, 2025 09:13 pm IST
