Indian Oil Signs MoU With Central TB Division For Tuberculosis Eradication

The Indian Oil Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the Central TB Division (CTD) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to undertake an intensified TB elimination project on Wednesday. 

The ministry noted that Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisgarh share the highest burden of TB cases among large states in India.

The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri.

Speaking about the campaign, the ministry stated that with a multi-pronged approach that addresses all aspects of TB at its different stages, this ambitious anti-TB campaign, as part of IOCL’s CSR, aims to ensure early identification of presumptive TB and prompt diagnosis using high-sensitivity diagnostic tests at the doorstep. 

It added, “The drive also aims to offer sustainable and equitable access to free high-quality TB treatment, care, and support services to the people of Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. This would aid diagnosis of TB in rural areas and hard-to-reach communities leading to improved early case detection and thereby ensuring early treatment.”

Mandaviya commented “As part of the holistic governance approach, both ministries have collaborated through this MOU. This agreement will bolster Prime Minister  Narendra Modi's vision to end Tuberculosis in India by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)”. 

The diagnostic support provided as part of the MOU will strengthen the efforts to identify TB patients enabling timely treatment, he added.

Reiterating commitment of the government towards elimination of TB by 2025, the Union Minister highlighted achievements under Ni-kshay 2.0 initiative, which was recently launched by the Hon’ble President of India. 

“Within 15 days of the launch of the scheme, all 12 lakh identified and consented TB patients in India were covered by Nikshay Mitras who provide them nutrition kits and other support”, he stated. 

Thanking IndianOil for not only taking this initiative but bringing it to a point of implementation,  Hardeep Singh Puri stated that this milestone MoU is an affirmation of the Indian energy sector’s resolve to align with PM’s vision to enhance the robust healthcare system in India. 

He stressed that the health sector has always taken primacy for CSR initiatives of Petroleum Ministry.