Integration of national tuberculosis elimination programme with child and adolescent health: India on track of end tuberculosis strategy

Abstract

As per the global tuberculosis (TB) report 2020, 56% adult males, 32% adult females and 12% children worldwide, have TB. In India, an estimated 3.33 lakh children in the 0-14 years age group become ill with TB each year (28% of global childhood TB burden), with a slightly higher burden among males. In 2019, the national tuberculosis elimination programme (NTEP) reported 1.5 lakh TB cases of children aged 0-14 years, indicating a gap of 55% in TB notifications in this age group.¹ In order to address the gaps in pediatric TB coverage, the NTEP collaborated with child health and adolescent health programmes of the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW). The two primary health programmes that serve children and adolescents across the country are Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), respectively. This integration will bring the country forward towards the efforts of its goal to achieve the target of end TB strategy.