The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested all states and Union Territories to organize a 100-day intensified campaign on tuberculosis (TB) elimination in prisons and correctional institutions, as part of the central government’s commitment to eliminating the disease from the country. In a letter, the Ministry asked all states and Union Territories to organize screening camps and display Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material in all prisons. It also requested them to initiate the pledge (Ni-kshay Shapath) shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from 27th January to 2nd of February. The Ministry further urged the states and Union Territories to conduct awareness generation activities about tuberculosis for the staff of prisons and correctional institutions.

States and Union Territories have been asked to coordinate with the District TB Officers for organizing the screening camps in prisons and obtaining IEC materials for display inside the prisons. They are also requested to engage prison authorities in taking active steps for comprehensive screening of prison inmates as well as prison officers, and for generating awareness about tuberculosis in the prisons