The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with Maharashtra Lok Bhavan, will launch the ‘TB-Free Mumbai’ campaign on Tuesday, May 26, to strengthen efforts towards eliminating tuberculosis in the city, officials said on Sunday.
The initiative has been conceptualised by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and will be formally inaugurated in Dharavi and Sion.
According to civic officials, the first session of the programme will take place at 11 am at the Shri Eknathrao Gaikwad Urban Health Centre in Dharavi.
The second session will be held at 11.30 am at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion, where the Governor will digitally inaugurate the campaign and release a ‘TB-Free Mumbai’ booklet.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde will preside over the programme, while Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi will attend as a special guest.
Nutrition kits to be distributed
An official statement said that during the event, nutrition kits will be distributed to tuberculosis patients to support their recovery and treatment.
The Governor will also interact with district tuberculosis officers and ASHA workers involved in public health outreach and TB control programmes.
Officials said handheld X-ray devices will also be distributed as part of the initiative to improve early detection of tuberculosis in high-risk populations.
Awareness and screening drives
The statement said that under the ‘TB-Free Mumbai’ campaign, special Ayushman health camps will be organised to screen vulnerable and high-risk groups using portable X-ray equipment.
The campaign will focus on:
– Early diagnosis of tuberculosis
– Immediate treatment for TB patients in both public and private healthcare sectors
– Preventive treatment for close contacts of infected patients
– Community awareness drives through NGOs and health workers
– Reducing stigma and discrimination related to tuberculosis
– NGOs and Health Workers to Be Honoured
At the Sion programme, voluntary organisations associated with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme will also be honoured for their contribution towards TB awareness and treatment support, the statement said.
Several public representatives and civic officials are expected to attend the event, including local MPs, MLAs, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and senior health department officials.
Focus on public health
Officials said the campaign aims to improve public awareness, strengthen early detection systems and ensure better access to treatment across Mumbai.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to make Mumbai tuberculosis-free through coordinated action between civic authorities, healthcare workers and community organisations.
