New Delhi: One out of every four TB patients in the world is in India. In absolute numbers, that’s 26.9 lakh Indians, as per current data.
A huge majority of those TB patients are poor. TB treatment is free, funded by the government, which also provides some money for maintaining a proper diet.
But this is a disease that hits the poor really hard – because treatment calls for periods of rest and regular intake of nutritious food over a period of months, and both are often out of reach for those who live on daily, modest incomes.
What if, though, these poor TB patients had friends, friends who helped them tide over the periods they are out of work and made sure they were on recommended diets?
This was the idea that launched GoI’s Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative – connecting poor TB patients who need help and better-off citizens who can and are willing to help.
It followed a target set by PM Modi that India must eradicate TB by 2025, five years before the WHO deadline of 2030.
It’s early days – the scheme was launched on September 9, although preparatory work had begun earlier – but already 15,415 large-hearted friends have adopted 9.56 lakh poor TB patients across the country.
Even better news is that those coming forward to help are not just individuals (8,595), but companies (294), political organisations (629), elected representatives (534) and NGOs (1,291).
The stories are heart-warming.
This story is from the September 18, 2022 edition of The Times of India Hyderabad.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 18, 2022 edition of The Times of India Hyderabad.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tollywood was happy hunting turf for conman
Kept Database Of Mobile Nos. Of Film Celebs
State-funded Metro to chug into RGIA in 3 yrs
Residents’ Plea To KTR To Extend Other Rail Lines
Rajiv Makhni becomes the face of smart tech luggage with proximity indicator
The VIP SmarTech series, a range of smart travel gear, keeps you connected with your luggage via your smartphone
I want to reach out to Samantha and tell her that if I can make it, so can you, says Vikram Bhatt
The filmmaker opens up about his 18-year-long battle with fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that causes widespread muscle pain
Rain ruins second ODI
The match was reduced to 29-overs-a-side as the first interruption caused a four-hour break. India were 22 for no loss in the fifth over at that time.
Croatia come in hard, show Canada the exit
After their dour opening draw with Morocco had instigated a post-mortem into whether this Croatia side lacked a killer instinct, Kramaric and Marko Livaja found the net before the break to take the wind out of Canada’s sails.
Denmark calls on Euro 2020, Eriksen experience
Denmark has been here before.
Ronaldo targets KO berth
Win Vs Uruguay Will Help Portugal Advance With A Game To Spare
Govt doubles large aircraft wet lease period to 1 yr
Accordingly, IndiGo can now wet lease two twin aisles to operate flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Istanbul for a year.
Deuba's party emerges as single largest party in poll
Elections to the House of Representatives and seven provincial assemblies were held on November 20.
