District-Level Launch of JOSH Teams Held in Leh to Strengthen Community Participation in TB Elimination.

District-Level Launch of JOSH Teams Held in Leh to Strengthen Community Participation in TB Elimination.
Leh, October 8, 2026: The district-level launch of JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was held on 8th October 2026 at the Training Hall of SNM Hospital, Leh, with the district participating virtually in the national launch programme organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The JOSH initiative aims to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation and enhance grassroots participation in the efforts towards tuberculosis (TB) elimination. The first phase of the initiative is being rolled out across 55 districts in 11 States, bringing together administrative leadership, MY Bharat volunteers, NCC cadets and Class-I officers to support the TB Mukt Bharat campaign.
The launch programme featured achievement videos highlighting the contributions of MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets. Information and awareness materials, including the JOSH brochure, Flip Book and E-Sangini feature on the TB Mukt App, were also introduced. The programme also highlighted Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot aimed at improving public awareness and engagement in the fight against TB.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Medical Officer, Leh, Dr Rinchen Chosdol emphasised that the elimination of TB requires individual and collective support from every section of society. She stressed the need to ensure that vulnerable and mobile populations, including labourers and migrant labourers, are effectively covered under TB screening, awareness and treatment initiatives.
District Panchayat Officer, Leh, Saqib Sharief Khan, JKAS, who attended the programme as the Guest of Honour, assured full support from his department to JOSH Teams and TB workers in strengthening community-level interventions and achieving the goal of TB elimination.
District Tuberculosis Officer, Leh, Dr Tsering Palmo, highlighted the ongoing efforts to identify active TB cases at the village level. She informed that 129 new TB cases have been identified, while 49 Gram Panchayats have achieved TB-free status, reflecting the sustained efforts towards making the district TB-free.
During the programme, TB Mukt Panchayats were felicitated by Director of Health Services, UT Ladakh, Dr Tashi Thinless, and CMO Leh, Dr Rinchen Chosdol. Deputy Director, MY Bharat, Leh, Mrs Jigmet Spaldon, and Subedar Ramananda Singh of NCC were also felicitated for their support and participation in the initiative.
Medical Superintendent, SNM Hospital, Leh, Dr Yangchan Dolma, and BMO Leh, Dr Javed Ahmad, were also present on the occasion.
The launch witnessed active participation from NCC cadets, MY Bharat volunteers and village representatives, including Gobas/Nambardars from various villages, reaffirming the importance of community participation in the collective mission to make Ladakh TB-free.
After lunch the JOSH team was sensatized by Yasser Ahmed DPC Leh and STS Phuntsog Namgyal with a PPT.