The numbers are staggering. India is home to 27% of the world's TB cases, with the disease killing an average of two people every three minutes. In slums like Mumbai's Govandi, the disease lurks in waterlogged, airless alleys, infiltrating almost every second home.
The government has rolled out initiatives, but the goal is "dangerously out of reach". The health system is plagued by gaps:
Outdated Tools: Many diagnoses still rely on a 140 year old method that misses active cases.
Pandemic Setback: COVID19 lockdowns halted screenings and disrupted medicine supplies.
Social Stigma: Fear of discrimination causes some families to hide diagnoses, allowing the disease to spread.
The human cost is immense. People like Mehboob Sheikh, who lost his wife to TB and now struggles with the disease himself, have lost their livelihoods and hope. He speaks of the government's cash assistance he never received.
Eliminating a disease like TB requires more than promises; it requires a robust, wellfunded health system that reaches the most vulnerable. As the deadline passes, it's clear that India's fight is far from over.
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