Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in Manipur at Raj Bhavan and launched the Nikshay Mitra Manipur web portal under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to strengthen community participation in the fight against tuberculosis.
The review meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Sumant Singh and senior officials of the Health Department.
The newly launched portal, nikshaymitramanipur.com, will enable individuals, elected representatives, institutions and organisations to register as Nikshay Mitras and support TB patients by providing monthly nutritional food baskets and other essential assistance.
Presenting the progress of the programme, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sumant Singh said Manipur has made significant strides in expanding TB screening and diagnostic services, particularly among vulnerable populations. He highlighted improvements in X-ray screening, NAAT testing and treatment completion rates, besides the procurement of AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices to facilitate rapid screening in remote and difficult-to-access areas.
He said the next phase of the programme would focus on strengthening district-level implementation through regular reviews, expanding active case finding and preventive treatment, mobilising more Nikshay Mitras and CSR partners, integrating TB screening with other public health programmes, and leveraging technology for better diagnosis and monitoring.
