Centre unveiled Initiatives to boost Nutrition Support for TB Patients and their families

Posted 08 Oct 2024

2 min read

These initiatives are in line with India’s commitment to accelerate achievement of Sustainable Development Goals related to TB elimination.

Key Initiatives announced by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Increase in Nutrition support under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per month per patient for entire duration of treatment.
Introduction of Energy Dense Nutrition Supplementation (EDNS) for patients with Body Mass Index (ratio of height to weight to estimate amount of body fat) less than 18.5kg/m² (represent underweight individuals).
- EDNS would be provided to all eligible patients for first two months of their treatment.
- EDNS share will be distributed between centre and states on 60:40 basis.
Expanding scope of Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) to include family members (household contacts) of TB patients improving their immunity and reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

An infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is transmitted by aerosols and most commonly affects lungs.
Bacillle Calmette-Guerin vaccine provides immunity against TB.
Most common antibiotics used for treatment: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin.

Social Stigma and taboo, comorbidities (with HIV, diabetes), high dropout rates while treatment, drug resistance etc.

Ni-Kshay Mitra provides additional nutritional, investigation and vocational support to all on-treatment TB patients.
PMTBMBA bring together all community stakeholders to accelerate country’s progress towards TB elimination.
Mission Indradhanush includes vaccination against Tuberculosis.
Regional Prospective Observational Research for Tuberculosis (RePORT) India is a bilateral, multi-organizational, collaborative effort established in 2013 under Indo-US Vaccine Action Program.