In a major boost to Assam’s tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on October 22 adopted 100 TB patients from Kamrup Metro and Nagaon districts under the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). The adoption ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan, Guwahati.
During the event, the Governor distributed nutritional food baskets to five TB patients and felicitated five Ni-kshay Mitras and five TB Champions for their remarkable contributions to the state’s mission of achieving a TB-free Assam.
Emphasising the importance of collective action and compassion, Governor Acharya said that tuberculosis continues to be one of India’s major public health challenges, but expressed optimism that it can be eradicated through “collective efforts, empathy, and sustained engagement.” He described the adoption of 100 patients as both a personal pledge and a social responsibility, noting that the fight against TB requires not only medical intervention but also emotional and social support.
The Governor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in transforming the national TB elimination programme into a Jan Andolan (people’s movement) and called upon individuals, corporates, and organisations to contribute to the mission.
Highlighting Assam’s progress in TB control, Governor Acharya shared that the state’s TB testing rate has significantly increased—from 842 per lakh population in 2022 to 2,915 per lakh—enabling early detection and timely treatment. With a 90% treatment success rate, Assam has become one of the leading states in TB care and prevention.
He also cited the adoption of AI-based innovations such as the Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes (PATO) system, which predicts potential complications early and enhances patient recovery. “Due to these advancements, Assam’s TB mortality rate has declined from 3.1% to 2.4%, a remarkable sign of progress,” he added.
Governor Acharya further commended initiatives like the 100-Day TB-Free India Campaign and awareness drives conducted by Raj Bhavan and the State Health Department, including outreach in educational institutions and support for TB patients through financial and nutritional aid.
Since the launch of the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative on September 9, 2022, Assam has enrolled over 21,600 Ni-kshay Mitras, who continue to provide comprehensive medical, nutritional, and emotional support to TB patients across the state.
Reaffirming his commitment to the cause, Governor Acharya concluded, “While medical care is essential, it is compassion, empathy, and community involvement that restore dignity and hope to those affected by the disease.”
The event was attended by Dr. P. Ashok Babu, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare; S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor; and senior officials from Raj Bhavan, the National Health Mission, and the State TB Cell.
