WHO Declares New Strategy to Eradicate Tuberculosis by 2030
The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled its 'End TB Strategy 2.0', an accelerated global plan to eliminate Tuberculosis as a public health threat by 2030. This comprehensive strategy emphasizes early diagnosis, universal access to drug-resistant TB treatment, and addressing the socio-economic determinants of the disease, aligning with India's more ambitious national target to eliminate TB by 2025.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its 'End TB Strategy 2.0' to eliminate Tuberculosis as a public health threat by **2030**.
- India has set an ambitious national target to eliminate Tuberculosis by the year **2025**, five years ahead of the global target.
- The WHO strategy emphasizes early diagnosis using rapid molecular tests and universal access to treatment for drug-resistant TB.
- It advocates for integrating TB care into primary healthcare systems and addressing the **socio-economic determinants** of the disease.
- India's **National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017-2025)** outlines key interventions like active case finding and improved diagnostics.
- The **Ni-kshay Digital Portal** is India's integrated ICT system for TB patient management, tracking, and surveillance.
- The **Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana** provides financial support of **₹500 per month** to TB patients for nutritional needs.
- The **Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan** encourages community support for TB patients through 'Ni-kshay Mitras'.
- Tuberculosis elimination is a key target under **Sustainable Development Goal 3.3**.
Why In News
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently unveiled its 'End TB Strategy 2.0', an updated and accelerated roadmap designed to significantly reduce Tuberculosis incidence and mortality worldwide. This renewed focus comes as the global community assesses progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, with TB remaining a major public health challenge requiring intensified efforts.
Syllabus Connection
This topic connects to understanding global health initiatives, their alignment with national health programs, and the policy frameworks for disease eradication. Students should revise the socio-economic determinants of health and the role of international organizations.
Prelims vs Mains — What to Focus On
| Aspect | Prelims | Mains |
|---|---|---|
| WHO TB Target | Eliminate TB as a public health threat by 2030. | Global health equity, sustainable development goals, international cooperation challenges. |
| India's TB Target | Eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of global target. | National health priorities, resource allocation, public health infrastructure, federal-state coordination. |
| Key Strategy Focus | Early diagnosis, drug-resistant TB treatment, social protection. | Integrated healthcare systems, addressing social determinants, research and innovation in public health. |
| Indian Initiatives | Ni-kshay portal, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. | Digital health, direct benefit transfer, community engagement, private sector involvement. |
| SDG Link | Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: End the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria by 2030. | Interconnectedness of health goals with poverty, nutrition, and overall human development. |
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Low | 2–5 | UPSC focuses on depth, not breadth. General items are tested only when they have policy relevance. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | Medium | 2–4 | Miscellaneous GK including appointments, books, summits, and records appears in SSC. |
| State PCS / PSC | Medium | 3–5 | Miscellaneous GK is tested across all state exam categories. |
Key Facts to Remember: WHO Declares New Strategy to Eradicate Tuberculosis by 2030
- The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its 'End TB Strategy 2.0' to eliminate Tuberculosis as a public health threat by **2030**.
- India has set an ambitious national target to eliminate Tuberculosis by the year **2025**, five years ahead of the global target.
- The WHO strategy emphasizes early diagnosis using rapid molecular tests and universal access to treatment for drug-resistant TB.
- It advocates for integrating TB care into primary healthcare systems and addressing the **socio-economic determinants** of the disease.
- India's **National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017-2025)** outlines key interventions like active case finding and improved diagnostics.
- The **Ni-kshay Digital Portal** is India's integrated ICT system for TB patient management, tracking, and surveillance.
- The **Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana** provides financial support of **₹500 per month** to TB patients for nutritional needs.
- The **Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan** encourages community support for TB patients through 'Ni-kshay Mitras'.
- Tuberculosis elimination is a key target under **Sustainable Development Goal 3.3**.
Practice Questions
Q1. What is the global target year set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of Tuberculosis as a public health threat?
- 2025
- 2030
- 2035
- 2040
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the year 2030 as the global target for the elimination of Tuberculosis as a public health threat. This target is part of the broader Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
Q2. Which of the following is India's national target year for the elimination of Tuberculosis?
- 2025
- 2030
- 2035
- 2027
Explanation: India has set an ambitious national target to eliminate Tuberculosis by the year 2025. This is five years ahead of the global target set by the WHO, reflecting India's commitment to tackling its high TB burden.
Q3. The 'Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana' in India provides financial assistance to TB patients primarily for which purpose?
- Housing rent
- Transportation costs
- Nutritional support
- Education expenses
Explanation: The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana is a direct benefit transfer scheme launched by the Indian government. It provides financial assistance of ₹500 per month to all notified TB patients for their nutritional needs, recognizing the link between nutrition and recovery from TB.
Q4. Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) specifically includes a target to end the epidemics of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030?
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
Explanation: Sustainable Development Goal 3 focuses on 'Good Health and Well-being'. Specifically, target 3.3 aims to 'By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases'.
Q5. The 'End TB Strategy 2.0' launched by WHO emphasizes which of the following as a key approach to tackling Tuberculosis?
- Exclusive reliance on traditional diagnostic methods
- Ignoring socio-economic determinants of the disease
- Integrating TB care into primary healthcare systems
- Focusing solely on urban populations for treatment
Explanation: The 'End TB Strategy 2.0' by WHO strongly advocates for integrating TB care into primary healthcare systems. This approach ensures broader access to diagnosis and treatment, moving away from fragmented, specialized care and making it more accessible to communities.
How to Prepare Current Affairs for Government Exams — WHO Declares New Strategy to Eradicate Tuberculos…
For general current affairs, read the PIB (Press Information Bureau) daily digest. It covers government announcements that directly map to exam questions.
Maintain a 'Monthly Top 50' list — the 50 most important facts from the month. Revise this before every mock test.
Focus on news from the last 6–8 months before your exam date. Older news rarely appears unless it was a landmark event.
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