Boden Strengthens India’s TB-Free Mission: Nutritional Kits Distributed to 50 Tuberculosis Patients

Boden, July 9: In a significant step towards strengthening the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and supporting the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a “TB-Free India,” a special nutritional support programme was organised on Thursday at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Boden, in Nuapada district. Under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and with the support of R.K. HIV AIDS Research and Care Centre, nutritional kits were distributed to 50 out of 90 registered TB patients in Boden Block during the first phase of the programme. The programme was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeeb Nayak, Medical Officer In-Charge (MOIC), CHC Boden, and Mahesh Jena, Senior Treatment Supervisor (STS). During the event, TB patients were also sensitised about the importance of a balanced diet, regular medication, and timely treatment for faster recovery. The initiative is being implemented under the guidance of Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash, IAS, and Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, President of R.K. HIV AIDS Research and Care Centre. Over the past nine months, the project has been providing monthly nutritional kits to more than 800 TB patients across Nuapada district, along with support for three family members of each beneficiary, ensuring improved nutrition and better health outcomes. The organisers stated that proper nutrition is as essential as medication in the treatment of tuberculosis. The programme aims not only to improve the health of TB patients but also to provide nutritional assistance to their families, thereby contributing to the national goal of eliminating TB from India. Among those present were Yogita Borkar, Project Head; Ani Bhushan Ray, Project Controller; and Satyajit Das, Project Manager, along with health department officials and staff members. On the occasion, Collector Madhusudan Dash appreciated the initiative and said that coordinated efforts between the government, corporate organisations, and civil society are vital for achieving the national objective of a TB-Free India. He described the Boden initiative as a commendable example of combining healthcare with humanitarian support for the welfare of TB patients.