Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, May 30: Tuberculosis (TB) death rates have shown a sustained decline in six districts of Tamil Nadu following the implementation of the State government's Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET), according to a new study published in Global Health Action.

The study, titled Sustained reduction in program-reported TB death rate in six districts following Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam in southern India, was conducted jointly by Tamil Nadu’s TB Cell and the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology.

Researchers found that TB death rates declined consistently for more than two years in the districts of Dharmapuri, Karur, Villupuram, Kanniyakumari, Cuddalore and Salem after the rollout of TN-KET.

Launched in April 2022, TN-KET, also known as the TB Death-Free Project, is India's first state-wide and state-specific differentiated TB care initiative aimed at reducing tuberculosis-related deaths.

The programme focuses on identifying high-risk TB patients at an early stage, ensuring timely treatment, strengthening monitoring mechanisms and providing specialised care to vulnerable patients.

According to the study, the initiative contributed significantly to reducing programme-reported TB deaths across the six districts, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted interventions in tackling one of the country's major public health challenges.

Health experts said the findings could serve as a model for other states seeking to strengthen tuberculosis care and reduce mortality through focused, data-driven public health strategies.

The study highlights the importance of early diagnosis, continuous patient monitoring and enhanced healthcare support in achieving better outcomes for TB patients and advancing India's efforts to eliminate the disease.