Mysuru: The department of health and family welfare has declared 147 gram panchayats free from tuberculosis cases in Mysuru district.The department has announced this declaration as part of empowering local governance to take responsibility for the elimination of this disease, reducing stigma, improving diagnostics and offering support to TB patients. Among 256 GPs in Mysuru district, 147 have been declared as tuberculosis-free GPs in the district.The continuous awareness programme undertaken by the district authorities for the eradication of tuberculosis has contributed to the declaration of 147 GPs as tuberculosis-free. Door-to-door awareness programmes by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), along with local health assistants from all primary hospitals, also contributed to the reduction of TB cases. Identification and screening of such symptomatic cases in all state-run hospitals also helped in the decline of cases.Apart from these, the successful implementation of govt schemes like Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) by district health authorities under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, which provides Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for all registered TB patients along with nutritional support during treatment for such patients, resulted in the decline of such cases in the district.The district health authorities identified 3,597 TB cases in 2021, 4,008 in 2022, 3,713 in 2023, 3,500 in 2024 and 3,386 cases in 2025. Early screening and treatment of such patients are also helping the district health authorities in the eradication of this contagious disease. Prompt treatment of active cases, infection control measures, sensitising people to maintain good ventilation to disperse bacteria, and covering mouths when coughing, like awareness initiatives, also helped in the decline of cases. Speaking to TOI, district tuberculosis control officer Dr Mohammed Siraj said that 147 GPs among 256 GPs of Mysuru district were declared as tuberculosis-free GPs. An action plan has been prepared by the district health authorities for the elimination of TB in the remaining GPs and urban limits of the district. Taluk-level committees were also constituted to control the spread of this disease, he said. Active tuberculosis symptomsPersistent cough for 3+ weeksChest painCoughing up blood or phlegmFeverNight sweatsFatigue and weight loss
