As the battle against TB continues, the first quarter of this year saw 595 new cases diagnosed out of 3,761 samples tested. Additionally, 38 individuals were diagnosed with MDR-TB, and 57 were found to be suffering from both TB and HIV-AIDS. Alarmingly, 6% of patients were diabetic, 33% were tobacco users, and 16% were alcohol consumers.
Geographically, Aizawl district reported the highest number of TB cases at 433, followed by Kolasib district (46) and Lunglei district (34). Conversely, Mamit district in West Mizoram recorded the lowest TB cases at five. Despite the prevalence of the disease, only 187 individuals in the state have registered to adopt TB patients or donate to them through the ‘Nikshay’ platform under the PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
The ‘Nikshay’ platform, launched by President Droupadi Murmu in September 2022, aims to bolster community involvement in Mizoram’s fight against TB, aligning with India’s commitment to eradicate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target. This initiative emphasizes the significance of collaborative efforts and public health awareness in tackling TB effectively in Mizoram.