Blitz Bureau
Astudy by India that demonstrated the positive impact of nutrition on tuberculosis (TB) outcomes has contributed to global guidance on combating the world’s most infectious disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The agency also called for increased research and innovation to fight TB. Led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the study — conducted in Jharkhand — provided the first evidence that offering additional nutrition helps prevent TB cases and reduces mortality in India.
“The findings from India’s RATIONS study on the impact of nutrition on TB outcomes and incidence have contributed to global guidance,” the WHO said during a three-day virtual workshop. The WHO also urged the South-East Asia Region — which accounts for the highest share of TB cases and deaths globally — to urgently scale up research and innovation to meet End TB goals. “In our region alone, nearly 5 million people developed TB and close to 600,000 died from the disease in 2023,” said Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Region.
