PM Narendra Modi speaking at the Delhi End TB Summit on Tuesday.R.V.MOORTHY  

Advancing India’s TB elimination goal by five years ahead of the global target, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said, “India is determined to address the challenge of TB in mission mode. I am confident that India can be free of TB by 2025.”

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Delhi End TB Summit here. The Prime Minister also launched the TB Free India Campaign on the occasion.

He said TB mainly affected the poorest of the poor and every step taken towards the elimination of the disease was a step towards improving the lives of the poor.

States’ role

Mr. Modi said State governments played a very important role in the elimination of TB. “Thus strengthening the spirit of cooperative federalism, I have personally written to the State governments to join in this mission,” he said.

The Prime Minister said front-line workers played a crucial role in TB elimination along with the people who had demonstrated great courage in defeating this disease.

Also present on the occasion were Union Minister for Health J.P. Nadda; Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel; Director-General, WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; former director, Stop TB Partnership, Ms. Lucica Difiu; along with Health Ministers from 20 countries.