A ten-member national media delegation from Delhi, led by Press Information Bureau Additional Director General Dr. Manisha Verma, is visiting Puducherry as part of a media tour organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The delegation called on Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Shri K. Kailashnathan on 03 July 2025 at Raj Nivas Puducherry. During the interaction, the Lt. Governor highlighted the Union Territory government's committed efforts towards eliminating TB. The media team also held interactions with Shri A. Kulothungan, District Collector, Dr. S. Govindarajan, Mission Director, Puducherry State Health Society, Dr. C. Venkatesh, State Tuberculosis Officer, Dr Ravichandran, Director of Health and other officials.

 

District Collector Shri A. Kulothungan underscored the strong infrastructure supporting TB elimination in the Puducherry UT, including 7 TB units, 28 diagnostic centres and a top-ranked Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) at the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases. Recognised as the best IRL in India last year, the facility is equipped with molecular testing and gene sequencing capabilities, conducting up to 1.2 lakh tests annually and serving patients from Puducherry and beyond.

Interacting with the media, Dr. S. Govindarajan said that the Union territory is targeting to make 40 villages declared TB free this year. He added that with concrete efforts from the health department eight villages — Sivaranthagam, Ariyur(N), Vathanur, Soriyankuppam, Kudiyirupupalayam, Pooranankuppam, Sembipalayam and Korkadu — were declared TB-Free last year.

Detailing on the UT’s TB elimination efforts, State Tuberculosis Officer Dr. C. Venkatesh said that Puducherry has achieved a 59% reduction in TB incidence since 2015, earning a Silver Medal in the Sub-National TB Certification in 2022. He pointed out that the UT has recorded a 136% increase in TB testing, with 100% of presumptive patients now being tested using advanced molecular diagnostics like CBNAAT and Truenat. Puducherry was also recognised by Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda on World TB Day this year for its performance during the 100-day Intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

 

Dr. Venkatesh also highlighted that the UT has gone beyond medical interventions by focusing on nutritional and community support. Since the launch of the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative in September 2022, 12,609 nutrition baskets have been provided to TB patients by 241 Ni-kshay Mitras or donors, with 85% receiving at least three baskets during treatment. He noted that this complements the Rs. 1000 monthly support under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana. He further said that Puducherry’s 10 medical colleges contribute to 45% of TB case notifications and play an active role in detection and treatment. During the 100-day campaign, over 3.8 lakh individuals were screened, including 24,000 high-risk persons using AI-enabled handheld chest X-ray machines, with more than 15,000 presumptive cases tested using NAAT for early diagnosis.

The media delegation will visit the Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Villianur on 04 July 2025 where, they will interact with TB champions, ASHA workers, Nikshay Mitras, and field-level health supervisors. The delegation will also visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville.

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(Release ID: 2142066)