IANS
GURGAON, NOVEMBER 20
US ambassador to India Richard R. Verma on Friday said India is worst effected by tuberculosis (TB) and needs more efforts to fight the disease.
Verma said TB was grabbing and finishing India.
He said every year 2.2 million people were becoming victim of TB.
The US envoy was speaking on the launching of ‘Tuberculosis (TB) Free Haryana’ drive here.
The drive was undertaken by Medanta in collaboration with the Haryana government, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung diseases (The Union) and the Central TB Division of the ministry of health and family welfare.
Supporting the initiative of eradicating TB, Verma said India’s success rate was 66 percent in fighting the disease as per the statistical data of 2013.
Emphasizing the need for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight TB, Verma said: “TB control is a cause worth fighting for, which is why we are asking more companies and citizens to join the growing movement to end TB.
“We are also very grateful to Amitabh Bachchan for joining with us in this campaign. Bachchan’s personal story as a TB survivor, and his public commitment to this cause, will help to lift the social stigma surrounding this disease.”
Big B launches ‘TB Free Haryana’ drive
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, along with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, launched the “Tuberculosis (TB) Free Haryana” programme here on Friday. The Big B said there was a perception in the society that weaker, poor and disadvantaged section of society were the most victim of TB, “but it is wrong”.
He said anyone could get afflicted with TB irrespective of the surroundings and “I am one such example”.
On the occasion, Amitabh shared that he once developed TB. “Even I developed the TB disease in 2000, but I was perfect after few months regular treatment.”
The disease is 100 percent curable.
“I became the part of this mission and I will be happy if my endorsement for the cause can help safeguarding health of the people,” he added.
“Beti Bachao Abhiyan” is a wonderful initiative to save the girl child, said Amitabh, adding that he was willing to be associated with the campaign in Haryana.
On the occasion, two ‘TB free Haryana Vans’ were also launched at the Medanta - The Medicity hospital auditorium in Gurgaon. The vans, equipped with chest X-Ray machines and other diagnostics, will patrol around the state on a weekly basis to identify the people suffering from TB. The TB-free Haryana programme is divided into three phases and Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat, Palwal and Jhajjhar (South-East part of the state )will be covered in the first phase.
US ambassador to India Richard Verma, Delhi’s Principal Secretary Anshu Prakash (Health and Family Welfare), Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh, noted cardiac surgeon and MD of Medanta Dr. Naresh Trehan were among those present at the event.
