Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviews Manipur’s TB elimination programme and launches Nikshay Mitra portal to boost community support for TB patients.
Imphal, August 6: Governor of Manipur Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Thursday reviewed the progress of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in the State and launched the Nikshay Mitra Manipur web portal under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Lok Bhavan, Imphal.
The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Sumant Singh, and senior officials of the Health Department.
The newly launched portal, nikshaymitramanipur.com, is aimed at increasing community participation in the fight against tuberculosis by providing a platform for individuals, elected representatives, institutions and organisations to register as Nikshay Mitras.
Through the initiative, registered supporters can assist TB patients by providing monthly nutritional food baskets and other essential support as part of the national effort to improve patient care and treatment outcomes.
During the meeting, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Sumant Singh gave a detailed presentation on the progress of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in Manipur. He highlighted key areas of focus, including district-level coordination, active case finding, preventive treatment, nutritional assistance, community involvement and regular programme monitoring.
Singh informed that the State has expanded TB screening and diagnostic services, with improvements reported in screening among vulnerable groups, X-ray examinations, NAAT testing and treatment completion rates.
He also highlighted the procurement of AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices to support faster TB screening, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access areas of Manipur.
Outlining the future roadmap, Singh stated that the programme would focus on strengthening district-led implementation through regular reviews, expanding active case finding and preventive treatment, increasing the number of Nikshay Mitras and CSR partners, and improving nutritional support for TB patients.
The roadmap also includes integrating TB screening with other public health programmes, using technology for better diagnosis and monitoring, and encouraging wider community participation to accelerate efforts towards making Manipur a TB-free State.
After reviewing the implementation of NTEP and the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in the State, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla appreciated the efforts of the Health Department and other stakeholders involved in the programme.
The Governor directed officials to maintain the momentum through effective implementation, regular monitoring and stronger coordination among departments. He also emphasised the need to strengthen early detection, timely treatment and community involvement in the fight against tuberculosis.
