Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh ranked among the country’s best-performing states in the Centre’s 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, securing a joint top position with a score of 19 out of 21 points, or 90%, on key tuberculosis indicators.The evaluation by the Union ministry of health and family welfare assessed campaign performance between March 24 and July 5, tracking progress on screening, diagnosis, preventive care and patient support. Uttar Pradesh was placed in the top category alongside several other states.According to the assessment, the state scored the highest in six of the seven parameters, reflecting strong implementation in active case finding, molecular diagnosis and preventive treatment. A major improvement was recorded in TB preventive treatment, which is aimed at stopping latent TB infection from progressing to active disease.Uttar Pradesh initiated TPT for 74% of eligible household contacts of TB patients, more than double the national average of 36%, making it one of the strongest-performing states in this critical intervention. The campaign also showed that the state exceeded its chest X-ray target, conducting 111% of the expected X-rays compared with a national average of 102%.On confirmatory diagnosis, Uttar Pradesh reported 92% coverage of molecular testing using NAAT, higher than the national average of 84%, indicating that most suspected cases underwent more accurate testing.The state also showed stronger patient support indicators than the national average in multiple areas. About 63% of TB patients were assessed for differentiated TB care, slightly above the national average of 60%, and 81% received at least one nutrition kit compared with the all-India average of 56%.Screening among vulnerable populations also stood out, with 64% of enrolled vulnerable individuals undergoing chest X-ray screening, higher than the national average of 50%.The only parameter where Uttar Pradesh fell short was disbursal of benefits, scoring 0% on the indicator tracking whether TB patients received all entitled benefits. This was a broader national concern, with the countrywide average at 6%.Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Kumar Ghosh, credited the performance to field and frontline workers and reiterated the state’s commitment to TB elimination, urging public participation to help make India TB-free.
