India worst affected by TB : US ambassador

Gurgaon: US ambassador to India Richard R Verma on Friday said India is worst effected by tuberculosis (TB) and needs more efforts to fight the disease.

Verma said TB was grabbing and finishing India.

He said every year 2.2 million people were becoming victim of TB.

The US envoy was speaking on the launching of 'Tuberculosis (TB) Free Haryana' drive here.

The drive was undertaken by Medanta in collaboration with the Haryana government, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung diseases (The Union) and the Central TB Division of the ministry of health and family welfare.

Supporting the initiative of eradicating TB, Verma said India's success rate was 66 percent in fighting the disease as per the statistical data of 2013.

Emphasizing the need for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight TB, Verma said: "TB control is a cause worth fighting for, which is why we are asking more companies and citizens to join the growing movement to end TB.

"We are also very grateful to Amitabh Bachchan for joining with us in this campaign. Bachchan's personal story as a TB survivor, and his public commitment to this cause, will help to lift the social stigma surrounding this disease."

USAID has provided $100 million to fight TB.