DW BUREAU / shimla An orientation session was organised here today on Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Abhiyan (PMTBMBA) Ni-kshay Mitra for the officers of all the departments of the state government. While presiding over the session, Principal Health Secretary, Health Subhasish Panda gave a clarion call to all sections of the society to adopt patients suffering with the tuberculosis disease as Ni-kshay Mitra for providing them nutritional and emotional support. He said that keeping in view the high incidence of the tuberculosis cases, the state government was working on three-fold strategy to eradicate this disease of major concern by giving special thrust on prevention, identification and better treatment facilities to the patients. He stressed the need for collective efforts to inspire the TB patients to undergo complete treatment since this disease since this disease was also considered as social stigma as a result of which many patients desist from taking treatment. This way, they also increase the possibility of spreading the disease to their family members and others as well. Subhasish Panda said that the government of India had set the target to make India TB-free by the end of the year 2025 while the Himachal Pradesh government was making all out efforts to achieve this target one year ahead. Being a small state with a population of over 70 lakh, the state could attain this target one year before. He urged the individuals, institutions, organisations, Mahila Mandals and self-help groups to come out to supplement the efforts of the state government. He said the government was providing financial and nutritional support to tuberculosis patients. The Aasha workers were working as DOT providers and they were also ensuring that the patients take complete treatment for six months. The state government was also implementing Mukhya Mantri Kshay Rog Nivaran Yojana and PM TB-Free Bharat as supplementary schemes in the state for TB patients. He said that today World AIDS Day was also being celebrated and it should be realised that due to low immunity, the AIDS patients were prone for tuberculosis also. He also expressed concern that youngsters indulging in drug abuse were also getting infected. Mission Director, National Health Mission Hem Raj Bairwa while conducting the proceedings of the meeting informed that so far basic orientation sessions had been held with the MLAs and other stakeholders. The state was aiming at lowering the prevalence rate of tuberculosis and a better nutritional diet was being provided to the patients. He said Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar launched Ni-kshay Mitra programme in the state and so far 761 people had adopted TB patients in the state by becoming Ni-kshay Mitra. (editor@dailyworld.in)