Chandigarh, May 8: The Haryana health department has identified 10,978 new tuberculosis patients following a month-long targeted screening initiative. Health Minister Arti Singh Rao declared that the state is accelerating its efforts toward the “TB Mukt Haryana” objective through a combination of community outreach and advanced diagnostic technology.
The findings were part of an interim report for the second phase of a 100-day eradication campaign, which commenced on World TB Day. Rao affirmed that the strategy has shifted from waiting for symptomatic patients to actively searching for hidden cases in high-risk zones. She stated that the use of Active Case Finding has been essential in locating individuals who might otherwise have gone undiagnosed.
“This achievement has been made possible due to AI-based technologies and the Active Case Finding strategy,” Rao asserted. She noted that AI-enabled handheld X-ray machines are now providing immediate results in remote regions, while the “Cough Against TB” mobile application analyzes vocal patterns to flag potential infections.
National Health Mission Director Dr. R.S. Dhillon maintained that the campaign’s success is largely due to the deployment of 65 mobile medical units functioning as roaming diagnostic labs. He affirmed that these units have integrated TB screening with general health checks for blood pressure and diabetes to provide comprehensive care.
Officials declared that 1,620 camps were organized between March 24 and May 5, with nearly 1.82 lakh individuals undergoing screening. Dhillon stated that geospatial technology was utilized to pinpoint 2,111 vulnerable villages for specialized intervention. He asserted that the participation of local Panchayati Raj institutions has been vital in reducing the social stigma associated with the disease.
