Port Blair: With a sharp focus on tracking “missing” tuberculosis cases before they spread, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has significantly stepped up proactive TB screening across the Islands, using handheld chest X-ray machines and advanced molecular testing to detect the disease at an early stage among vulnerable and high-risk populations.
The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has intensified its battle against tuberculosis by prioritising the early identification of “missing” TB cases through proactive screening, as the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – 100 Days Intensified Campaign gathers momentum across the Islands.
Launched on March 24, 2026, in line with national guidelines, the campaign is targeting vulnerable populations and high-risk settings using handheld chest X-ray machines and upfront Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT)—a rapid molecular diagnostic tool that enables early and accurate detection of TB. The initiative is being implemented through Ayushman Arogya Shivirs organised across urban, rural and other identified locations.
According to the Administration, the campaign has recorded encouraging progress between March 24 and July 6, 2026. A total of 762 Ayushman Arogya Shivirs have been conducted, including 209 in urban areas, 553 in rural areas, seven in congregate settings and nine at other locations, attracting 34,566 beneficiaries.
As part of the intensified screening effort, 13,622 chest X-rays and 3,050 NAAT tests were carried out, leading to the notification of 134 tuberculosis cases. During the same period, 10,085 Ni-kshay enrolments, covering new TB cases and fresh treatment episodes, were also registered, strengthening patient tracking and treatment support.
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The campaign has also witnessed robust community participation. As many as 165 Janbhagidari activities were organised with the involvement of 188 elected representatives, including the lone Member of Parliament, representatives of Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions. Awareness programmes were further conducted in schools and colleges, in coordination with line departments, Public Sector Undertakings, corporates, business associations and My Bharat volunteers.
Reaffirming its commitment to achieving a TB-free Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the Administration has appealed to citizens to join the movement as Nikshay Mitras, extending nutritional and psychosocial support to TB patients while strengthening community participation in the fight against the disease. The Administration said intensive screening, early diagnosis and sustained public engagement will remain the cornerstone of its strategy to eliminate tuberculosis from the Islands.
