JOSH takes off in Palamu to strengthen TB elimination drive
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, October 8: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s flagship JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) initiative under…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, October 8: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s flagship JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) initiative under the PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan was launched in Daltonganj on Thursday, marking the district’s participation in the national campaign to accelerate efforts towards tuberculosis elimination.
Deputy Development Commissioner M Sadat Anwar, along with in-charge TB officer Dr S K Ravi and Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Sriwastwa, formally launched the initiative. The launch coincided with the national-level inauguration held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on October 8.
Palamu Deputy Commissioner Dilip Pratap Singh Shekhawat could not attend the programme due to official engagements, sources said.
JOSH to Mobilise Communities Against TB
According to a PIB note, JOSH brings together the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Defence to promote community participation in the fight against tuberculosis.
The initiative focuses on grassroots awareness, community engagement and social mobilisation to support the government’s goal of eliminating TB from India.
Medical experts stressed that tuberculosis is not a disease confined to economically weaker sections. TB can affect people across socio-economic groups and is primarily transmitted through airborne droplets, with pulmonary and throat TB being particularly infectious.
India continues to account for a significant share of the global tuberculosis burden, underlining the scale of the challenge despite ongoing national efforts to eliminate the disease.
Eight Jharkhand Districts Covered in First Phase
Eight TB-prone districts of Jharkhand are being covered under JOSH in the first phase. These include Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Latehar, Chatra, Palamu and Khunti, with the official list indicating eight districts in the state.
The districts form part of 55 districts across 11 states being covered during the first phase of the initiative, according to the PIB note.
The Centre has set a target of eliminating TB from India by 2030, but health officials and medical professionals acknowledge that achieving the goal will require sustained efforts, particularly in treatment adherence, early diagnosis and community participation.
2,722 TB Patients Under Treatment in Palamu
In-charge TB officer Dr S K Ravi said 2,722 notified TB patients are currently undergoing treatment in Palamu.
He highlighted treatment adherence as one of the major challenges in TB control, particularly cases where patients discontinue medication before completing the prescribed course.
“There is another bottleneck in TB treatment. It is the dropout case. A TB patient leaves taking medicine midway. TB strikes back very soon,” Dr Ravi said.
He also cautioned against treatment failure and drug-resistant TB, saying Palamu currently has 40 multidrug-resistant TB cases.
“TB is curable. Our success rate is 90 per cent. What a TB patient needs is to take medicine on time,” Dr Ravi said.
70 Panchayats Targeted for TB-Free Status
The health department is also working to expand the number of TB-free panchayats in Palamu.
According to official figures, 34 panchayats were notified TB-free in 2024-25, while another 45 panchayats achieved the status in 2025-26.
For the ongoing 2026-27 financial year, the health department has set a target of making 70 more panchayats TB-free, Dr Ravi said.
Nutrition support for TB patients is another important aspect of the elimination programme. A TB survivor, recalling the financial difficulties faced during treatment, said affluent families and communities should come forward to support patients living in their neighbourhoods.
Dr Ravi said nationalised banks are expected to provide food baskets to TB patients under their corporate social responsibility initiatives. However, funds for the programme have not yet been made available, he said.
Health officials emphasised that community participation, treatment adherence, nutritional support and sustained awareness will be crucial if Palamu is to make significant progress towards the goal of TB elimination.
