The National Health Mission (NHM), UT Ladakh, virtually participated in the national launch of JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on October 9 as part of the Government of India’s efforts to strengthen community participation in tuberculosis (TB) elimination.

The programme was attended virtually from the NHM office in Leh by Tushar Anand (IAS), Mission Director, NHM Ladakh; Dr. Tashi Thinlas, Director of Health Services, Ladakh; and other officials and staff of NHM Ladakh.

The initiative was launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence. It aims to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

In its first phase, the initiative will engage 58,000 volunteers across 55 districts in 11 states. It will bring together MY Bharat volunteers, NCC cadets and government officials to promote TB awareness, early detection, timely diagnosis, treatment adherence and community engagement.

The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots outreach, address misconceptions and stigma associated with TB, and encourage active public participation towards achieving the vision of a TB Mukt Bharat.