In order to make Haryana a Tuberculosis (TB) free state, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan launched two ‘TB free Haryana Vans’ at the Medanta Medicity Auditorium in Gurgaon.
US ambassador to India, Richard Verma and Anshu Prakash, Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Government of Delhi and noted cardiac surgeon and MD of Medanta, Dr. Naresh Trehan were present at the event tho show their support.
Speaking at the event, Big B said that he personally feels related to the cause as he has suffered through the disease way back in 2000. He said that he has successfully won the battle with TB and is fully cured now.
“Anyone can get afflicted with TB irrespective of the surroundings and I am one such example. If my endorsement for the cause can help safeguarding health of the people, I shall willingly be part of this campaign,” Big B added.
Talking about the ‘Beti Bachao Abhiyan’, he said that he is willing to be associated with the campaign in Haryana and is ready to help the state in saving the girl child.
State Chief Minister Khattar said the mobile vans represent a good endeavor to improve case detection and rid the state of this disease.
“We also intend to create more government medical institutions and colleges in the state. Our aim is to add 2000 doctors to help the nation every year,” Khattar added.
Supporting the initiative of eradicating TB, Richard Verma said that India’s success rate is 66% in fighting the disease as per the statistical data of 2013. Verma also hoped the medical vans will help to improve the detection rate of TB and give new people to the people of Haryana.
The TB-free Haryana program is divided into three phases and Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat, Palwal and Jhajjhar will be covered in the first phase. The ‘TB free Haryana Van’ is well equipped with chest X-Ray machines and other diagnostics. The two vans launched on Friday will patrol around the state on a weekly basis to identify the people suffering from TB.
The mobile vans can test up to 50 people a day and X-rays can diagnose if suspected patients have TB almost immediately after they have been screened.
The private initiative undertaken by Medanta has been launched in collaboration with the government of Haryana, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung diseases (The Union) and the Central TB Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
This is a second of its kind event after Mumbai took the first step towards a ‘TB free India’ by launching ‘Mumbai Dialogue’-an event that witnessed the active participation of Megastar Bachchan and renowned Business magnate Ratan Tata. The event was organized was Mumbaikars in September this year.