In an effort to build a people-centred, participatory, and community-driven response to Tuberculosis (TB), Kohima district officially joined the national launch of the Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) campaign at DC’s conference hall, Kohima on 8th Oct. 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Chiben Kithan, District Tuberculosis Officer, stated that the JOSH Team is a newly introduced public health campaign and youth mobilization movement launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). The nationwide initiative aims to actively involve young people in awareness generation, social mobilization, and community engagement to combat TB.
Dr. Kithan informed that 36 villages under Kohima attained TB-Free status last year. These villages were felicitated during the program to encourage them to sustain their status. Highlighting the ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease, he mentioned key interventions such as free testing and nutritional support. Under the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative, the Governor of Nagaland has adopted 40 TB patients, while the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) has adopted 30 patients to provide them with essential nutritional support. Additionally, the District Planning & Development Board has opened a dedicated account to support TB patients.
Dr. Kithan urged the community to actively reduce stigma and discrimination towards patients. He pointed out that the primary hurdle in eliminating TB is the low turnout during screenings and appealed to local Village Councils to effectively mobilize people when free screening camps are conducted.
In his keynote address, ADC Kohima, Ruopfukuotuo Noudi, noted that many people are under the wrong impression that TB is a disease of the past. He emphasized that since a significant number of individuals continue to suffer from it, the Government of India specifically launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan for total eradication.
Over the last few years, increased emphasis has been placed on transforming the elimination drive into a Jan Andolan (people's movement) through the cooperation of all stakeholders. This collective effort ensures early case detection, timely medical intervention, and strict adherence to the full course of treatment. Noudi urged all designated Nodal Officers to give their best to ensure that no individual suffers from TB, guiding both the district and the state toward full eradication.
Following the formal launch of the campaign, a specialized orientation program was conducted for Block Development Officers (BDOs), NCC cadets, and My Bharat Volunteers. Dr. Kithan explained that JOSH Teams have been constituted at the block level, each comprising 5 My Bharat volunteers and 5 NCC cadets, functioning under the leadership of a Class-I Nodal Officer.
The event concluded successfully with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Chiben Kithan.
(DPRO & Zuchumo Kithan IA, Kohima)
