Health Ministry to Launch JOSH Teams for TB Elimination on 8 October 2026

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will launch JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams in New Delhi on 8 October 2026 to strengthen community participation in India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB).

The initiative will be launched by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J. P. Nadda and aims to involve young people more directly in awareness generation, social mobilisation and community engagement under the TB Mukt Bharat campaign.

What Are JOSH Teams?

JOSH stands for Joint Squad for Health.

The initiative is designed to provide young people with a structured platform to contribute to India’s TB elimination efforts.

JOSH Teams will focus on:

• TB awareness
• Community mobilisation
• Early identification of symptoms
• Promotion of timely diagnosis
• Encouraging treatment completion
• Reducing stigma around TB
• Taking health messages to the grassroots

First Phase to Cover 55 Districts in 11 States

In the first phase, JOSH Teams will be rolled out across:

• 55 districts
• 11 States

The main objective is to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation and take the message of TB Mukt Bharat beyond health facilities and closer to local communities.

The initiative will especially focus on engagement at the block and community levels.

Youth to Play a Major Role

The programme seeks to make young people active partners in TB prevention and elimination.

Participants will help spread information about:

• Common symptoms of TB
• Prevention measures
• Need for early testing
• Importance of timely diagnosis
• Completion of the full treatment course

The initiative is expected to make TB awareness more accessible at the grassroots level.

Ministers to Attend National Launch

The national launch will be led by J. P. Nadda in the presence of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

The event will also include participation from:

• Senior government officials
• Representatives of participating ministries
• Elected representatives
• MY Bharat Volunteers
• NCC Cadets
• Other stakeholders associated with TB elimination

Role of MY Bharat and NCC Volunteers

Youth volunteers such as MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets are expected to play an important role in spreading TB-related awareness.

Their involvement can help strengthen communication in schools, colleges, neighbourhoods and rural communities.

This approach is aimed at making TB prevention and treatment awareness more people-centric.

What is TB Mukt Bharat?

TB Mukt Bharat is India’s broader mission to eliminate tuberculosis by improving:

• Awareness
• Screening
• Diagnosis
• Treatment access
• Treatment adherence
• Community participation

The JOSH initiative is intended to complement existing health-sector efforts by increasing youth participation.

Why Community Participation Matters in TB Elimination

TB control is not only a medical challenge but also a social and community-level challenge.

Many people delay testing because of lack of awareness, stigma or limited access to information.

Community-level engagement can help:

• Identify symptoms earlier
• Encourage testing
• Reduce stigma
• Improve treatment completion
• Strengthen follow-up
• Improve public awareness