Health

Nadda Introduces Youth‑Led JOSH Teams to Boost TB Outreach in 55 Districts

By Rhythma Kaul

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda announced the launch of JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) teams on Thursday as part of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Each team will consist of five MY Bharat volunteers and five National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, led by a Class‑I officer at the block or ward level. The teams will operate in 55 districts across 11 states, aiming to strengthen community‑level outreach and support India’s tuberculosis elimination efforts.

The health ministry stated that the teams will serve as a key interface for the TB programme, conducting regular outreach and field activities to improve public understanding of TB, promote early diagnosis and treatment, dispel myths, and encourage community participation. Through household and community interactions, the teams will focus on raising awareness of common TB symptoms, preventive measures, the benefits of early diagnosis, and the importance of completing prescribed treatment. They will also work to counter stigma and discrimination associated with TB and motivate affected individuals to seek care and remain connected with the treatment system.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the teams were formed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested involving youth in an institutionalised manner in the TB elimination campaign. The government began the intensified TB campaign in December 2024 and launched a second phase earlier this year to cover the last mile of the programme.

Nadda explained that the initiative will start in the first phase across 11 states and will gradually expand its grassroots presence. The teams will operate at district and block levels, supported by digital mechanisms for monitoring and implementation. He said the youth‑led initiative will help identify gaps, strengthen outreach, and ensure that TB‑related services reach those outside the formal healthcare system.

Highlighting the importance of active case finding, Nadda said early identification is critical for timely treatment and interrupting transmission within families and communities. JOSH teams will play an important role in identifying vulnerable populations, facilitating community outreach, and encouraging people with symptoms or concerns to seek testing.

According to the latest World Health Organization report, TB incidence in India has declined by 21%, compared to a 12% decline globally. India’s TB treatment coverage has risen to 92%, higher than the global coverage of 78%. Government data shows 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts have been recognised as TB Mukt.

Nadda cautioned that the gains must not lead to complacency. "India has made significant progress, but the momentum must be sustained and efforts further intensified to ensure that every person with TB is diagnosed, provided timely treatment and supported through the course of care, thereby advancing the country’s collective resolve towards a TB Mukt Bharat," he said. India aims to eliminate TB ahead of the global elimination goal of 2030.