A total of 2,390 Gram Panchayats in Tamil Nadu have been declared tuberculosis (TB)-free for 2025.
These panchayats were felicitated in their respective districts recently, and the collective efforts of panchayat representatives, health teams, and communities were acknowledged. Dr. She added that the JOSH Teams would also facilitate the distribution of nutritional kits provided by Ni-kshay Mitras (donors) to patients and link patients to additional welfare schemes (ration, social security, health benefits).
After verification under the national framework, 2,390 gram panchayats in the State were declared TB-free for the year 2025. The criteria for declaring a panchayat as TB-free included — achieving a target of examining 30 or more presumptive TB persons through NAAT and/or microscopy per 1,000 population in the year, a TB notification rate of one or fewer per 1,000 population for the year, and a treatment success rate of 90% or more among notified drug-sensitive TB patients.
Asha Frederick, State TB Officer, said the ‘TB Free Panchayat’ initiative aimed to make TB elimination a community-owned movement at the grassroots level, with panchayats supporting prevention, early identification, diagnosis, treatment, and patient support. Asha Frederick said that at the block level, the JOSH Team would mobilise communities to spread awareness about TB, early symptoms, and available free diagnostic and treatment services, conduct village/ward-level awareness drives, and youth-led campaigns. They will be involved in patient support and handholding by acting as local “support buddies” for TB patients adopted under the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative and will also encourage treatment adherence, provide psychosocial support, and reduce stigma. The teams will build a cadre of young TB Champions to strengthen “TB Mukt Bharat” movement.
