On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to speak at the ‘One World TB Summit‘ on World Tuberculosis Day. The summit is organized by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership, a United Nations-hosted organization that amplifies the voices of those affected by TB. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also in attendance.
During the event, the Prime Minister launched various initiatives, including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), a family-centric care model for TB, and the release of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. He also awarded select states and districts for their progress towards ending TB.
In March 2018, during the End TB summit held in New Delhi, the Prime Minister called for India to achieve TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of the stipulated time. The One World TB Summit provided an opportunity to further deliberate upon the targets as the country moves forward to meet its TB elimination objectives.
International delegates from over 30 countries were present at the summit, which also showcased learnings from National TB Elimination Programmes.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various projects worth over Rs 1780 crore, including a passenger ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia, 55 MLD sewage treatment plants at Bhagwanpur under the Namami Ganga Scheme, a primary health centre in Bharthara village, and a floating jetty with changing rooms.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Prime Minister also dedicated 19 drinking water schemes, which will benefit more than 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats, and laid the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes.
Additionally, the Prime Minister dedicated various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission, including the redevelopment work of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools, beautification of internal city roads, and the redevelopment of 6 parks and ponds of the city, among others.
He also dedicated other infrastructure projects, such as the ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, a 2 MW solar power plant at the water works premises in Bhelupur, an 800 KW solar power plant at Konia Pumping Station, and the new Community Health Center at Sarnath.