Indian Oil on a TB elimination drive in UP, Chhattisgarh

LUCKNOW, Uttar Pradesh: Indian Oil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Central TB Division (CTD) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH & FW), and the states of Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh to undertake intensified TB elimination Project, marking a historic milestone that demonstrates India’s commitment to combat the menace of tuberculosis (TB).

The MoU supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision – a sustainable development goal (SDG) – to end TB in India by 2025, five years ahead than originally planned. The agreement was signed in the presence of Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India (GOI) and Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, GOI.

Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director, HR of Indian Oil Signed the MoU with Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Policy, MoH&FW; Dr Dharmendra Gahwai, State TB Officer, Chhattisgarh and Dr Shailendra Bhatnagar, State TB Officer, Uttar Pradesh.

According to an official statement, this ambitious campaign will follow a multi-pronged approach to ensure early identification of presumptive TB and prompt detection using diagnostic tests at the doorstep. The drive also aims to offer sustainable and equitable access to free TB treatment, care, and support services to the people of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Speaking at the occasion Puri said, “I compliment Indian Oil and its top leadership for not just taking the proactive initiative of signing the milestone MoU to fight Tuberculosis but bringing it to the point of concrete implementation. The MOH&FW has been taking innovative steps in this direction, and now, with Indian Oil’s support, I am sure the mission against this disease will be taken forward with a firm determination and blueprint.”

“This Milestone is an affirmation of the Indian energy sector’s commitment to align with PM Narendra Modi’s vision to bolster India’s healthcare system. It is appreciable how the energy PSUs have been upholding that commitment by continuously leveraging their CSR outreaches to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure. This was aptly demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare applauded Indian Oil and both states for their joint efforts to eliminate TB by 2025 and said, “Public partnerships and a holistic approach will be crucial to steer initiatives like TB eradication. I thank the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for their sustained contribution to nurturing affordable and accessible healthcare facilities through their CSR forays.”

The Minister also praised Indian Oil for the resources it is providing to stop the spread of TB, such as the installation of mobile testing vans that can travel to even the most distant areas of the two states.

Indian Oil will roll out mobile medical vans with cutting-edge diagnostic equipment as part of this project in Uttar Pradesh. This would aid the diagnosis of TB in rural and remote areas and hard-to-reach communities, improving early case detection and treatment. They’re also introducing a cost-effective, diagnostic device Truenat, which will increase access to and availability of TB diagnostic services in outlying tribal regions.

Indian Oil will provide these machines in all Tuberculosis Units of the eight Aspirational Districts of UP – Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatepur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar and Sonbhadra and community health centres (CHCs) in Chhattisgarh.

Additionally, the business will offer portable X-ray units in UP for all 18 State Headquarters and eight Aspirational Districts. In addition, Xray Units would be made available in five Divisions of Chhattisgarh. About 10 million people worldwide contract TB each year, killing nearly 1.5 million of them. India accounts for about one-fourth of all TB cases worldwide.