New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee today reminded the country of its success in eradicating polio as he expressed confidence that the “scourge” of tuberculosis, which kills one person every two minutes in the country, could be wiped out.
He said the global TB control is “unattainable” without controlling it in India. The President, however, noted that there is compelling evidence to suggest that the tide has turned and the burden of TB has begun to fall. “There are now fewer TB-related deaths each year than previous years.” He was speaking at the platinum jubilee celebration of the Tuberculosis Association of India and also the inauguration of 68th National Convention on Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases.
Mukherjee said that India has the world's “highest burden” of tuberculosis and TB kills one person every two minutes in the country or almost 750 people daily. “Global TB control is unattainable without controlling the incidence of TB in India... I am confident that when we put our hearts and minds together we shall be able to build an India free of Tuberculosis and other preventable diseases,” he said.
