New Delhi: The Institute of Heart and Lung Diseases Research Centre (IHLD) partnered with Krafton India to find active tuberculosis cases in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, supporting the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. They are starting by conducting active case-finding programs in one district of each state.
India is striving to eliminate tuberculosis five years earlier than the Sustainable Development Goals target of 2030.
Dr Rahul Chandola, founder and chairman of IHLD, revealed that IHLD plans to screen an estimated one lakh individuals through this partnership over the next year. Chandola said, “…the aim is to increase TB detection by 10-15 per cent in the target districts that are currently not accounted for in the existing system, significantly bolstering efforts towards disease surveillance and management.”
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, said, “With approximately 3.2 lakh lives lost to TB in 2023 alone, India’s commitment to eradicate TB by 2025 is commendable.”
Dr Chandola talked about the use of AI-supported X-ray machines for initial screening, enabling quick and correct identification of possible TB cases. This technological intervention not only streamlines the screening process but also improves early detection, central to containing the spread of tuberculosis.
