NHM Ladakh participates in National rollout of Youth-led TB awareness drive

LEH: The Centre will engage 58,000 volunteers across 55 districts in 11 states under the Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) initiative to strengthen community participation in tuberculosis (TB) elimination, with the National Health Mission (NHM) Ladakh joining the national launch virtually from Leh on Friday.

The initiative, launched by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence, aims to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

The first phase will bring together MY Bharat volunteers, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and government officials to promote awareness about TB, encourage early detection and timely diagnosis, and support treatment adherence through community engagement.

Mission Director, NHM Ladakh, Tushar Anand (IAS), and Director of Health Services, Ladakh, Dr Tashi Thinlas, attended the national programme virtually from the NHM office in Leh, along with other officials and staff of the mission.

The JOSH initiative seeks to expand grassroots outreach, address misconceptions and reduce the stigma associated with TB, while encouraging people to participate actively in efforts to eliminate the disease.

By involving young volunteers and government officials in community-level outreach, the programme aims to improve public awareness and encourage people to seek timely diagnosis and complete their prescribed treatment.

The initiative forms part of the Government of India’s broader efforts to mobilise communities in support of the vision of a TB-free India.