Temple trusts provide nutritional support to 120 TB patients, Niti Aayog member lauds Kangra administration

Niti Aayog member Dr Vinod Paul has appreciated the Kangra district administration’s unique initiative of providing nutritional support to TB patients through temple trusts.

Presiding over the Nishchay Mitra Samman ceremony in Dharamsala yesterday, Dr Paul said the problem of TB was related to malnutrition and 55 per cent TB incidence in India was due to malnutrition. “If a TB patient gets psychosocial support and good nutrition, the chances of a quick recovery are high,” Dr Paul said at the meeting that was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa.

The Niti Aayog member said the Nishchay Mitra Yojana was a good initiative to boost the morale of the TB patients. Himself a Nishchay Mitra, Dr Paul said a balanced and nutritious diet not only strengthened the immunity, but also balanced the effect of medicines.

Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said serious efforts were being made by the administration and Health Department to eradicate TB. He said under the Prime Minister TB Mukt Abhiyan in Kangra district, 1,087 people living with TB had agreed for help, out of which 672 patients were given psychosocial and nutritional support by Nikshay Mitras in September.

He said helping the patients by the temples of Kangra district was an important initiative. Nikshay Nutrition Kits were given to 30 patients by the Baglamukhi temple, Jwalamukhi Temple Trust and Brajeshwari Temple. At the same time, Nikshay Poshan Kits were distributed to 20 patients by Ram Gopal Mandir, Indora, and to 10 patients by Shiv Mandir, Kathgarh.