Agartala, Tripura, 9th of October, 2026 : With the objective of actively engaging the youth in the efforts towards TB elimination, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J. P. Nadda launched the ‘JOSH Teams’ initiative at the national level. The initiative aims to further strengthen the TB elimination campaign through youth-led action.
During the national launch programme, it was informed that India has recorded a 21% decline in TB incidence, while treatment coverage has increased to 92%. In 2026, 67,933 Gram Panchayats across 697 districts have been recognised as ‘TB Mukt’, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards TB elimination.
In the first phase, ‘JOSH Teams’ have been launched in 55 districts across 11 States and Union Territories. The initiative will subsequently be expanded nationwide. Youth will be actively engaged in creating awareness about TB, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment, and strengthening community participation. New IEC materials and the Khushi e-Sangini mobile application for real-time reporting by ‘JOSH Teams’ were also launched during the programme.
In Tripura, various programmes were organised across all 8 districts to mark the launch of the initiative. At the State-level programme held at the Video Conference Hall of the Secretariat, Shri Kishor Barman, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education and other Departments, was present. The Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Additional Secretary (Health)-cum-Mission Director, National Health Mission, Tripura; Joint Mission Director, National Health Mission, Tripura; State TB Officer, NTEP; and other officials of the Health Department were also present and witnessed the national-level launch programme through video conferencing.
The presence of youth from the JOSH Teams, comprising MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC cadets, was a significant feature of the district-level programmes organised across the State.
Through the ‘JOSH Teams’ initiative, Tripura aims to engage the youth more closely in the TB elimination campaign and further strengthen the people’s movement towards building a ‘TB Mukt Bharat’.
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