Dr. Shikha Mishra
Chief Secy Anand Bardhan orders daily monitoring of the TB Mukt Bharat campaign, Seeks 100% Screening in a Week
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has expressed strong displeasure over the slow progress of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in several districts and directed strict action against officials failing to meet targets. During a video conference with District Magistrates, the Chief Secretary ordered adverse entries to be issued to Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of districts where the general screening assessment of patients remained below 60 percent.
Reviewing the implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Bardhan emphasized the need for urgent corrective measures and directed all districts to achieve 100 percent completion of patient screening and assessment within the next week. He instructed officials to prioritize highly sensitive and high-risk villages to ensure timely identification and treatment of tuberculosis cases.
The Chief Secretary also directed the Director General (Health) to conduct daily monitoring and review of the campaign. Stressing the importance of intensified efforts in districts with low screening rates, he asked all CMOs to significantly increase screening activities and establish clear targets to make the campaign more effective and result-oriented.
Apart from reviewing the TB eradication drive, Bardhan also assessed maternal health indicators across the state. He directed health officials to focus on increasing first-trimester registration of pregnant women, stating that early registration would enable better identification and management of high-risk pregnancies.
Highlighting the need to reduce preventable maternal mortality, the Chief Secretary called for stronger systems to identify, monitor, and manage high-risk pregnancies and postpartum complications. He instructed district administrations to increase Antenatal Care (ANC) examinations and ensure adequate arrangements at Birth Waiting Homes across all districts.
With the monsoon season approaching, Bardhan directed authorities to shift identified high-risk pregnant women from remote and vulnerable areas to Birth Waiting Homes well in advance. He also suggested utilizing One Stop Centres operated by the Women and Child Development Department to support maternal healthcare services wherever required.
The Chief Secretary stressed that coordinated efforts among health and district administrations are essential to achieving the twin goals of a TB-free Uttarakhand and improved maternal health outcomes. He warned that accountability would be fixed for lapses while emphasizing the importance of timely action and continuous monitoring.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary L. Fanai, Special Principal Secretary Amit Sinha, Secretaries Shailesh Bagauli and Nitesh Jha, senior health officials, divisional commissioners, and district magistrates from across the state.
The review meeting underscored the state government's commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, accelerating the fight against tuberculosis, and ensuring better maternal and child health services across Uttarakhand.
