Johnson & Johnson India Launches ‘Be The Change For TB’ Initiative Aimed To Empower Youth To End Tuberculosis

New Delhi, March 25 (TNA) On the World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Thursday, Johnson & Johnson India announced the launch of a youth-focused, digital-first initiative #BeTheChangeForTB as part of its commitment to the Corporate TB Pledge.

It is a joint initiative with the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supporting the Indian Government’s goal to end TB. Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor has been appointed as the face of the initiative.

Youth represent a vulnerable population in the fight against TB. Despite this risk, young people are less likely to seek care due to a lack of awareness of TB symptoms, stigma associated with the disease, structural barriers in accessing complex health systems, and lack of family and social support, leading to millions going without diagnosis.

As an estimated 30 percent of the total TB cases in India are in the age group of 18-30 years, this initiative aims to create a cadre of Youth Changemakers who can act as catalysts of change to help eliminate TB from the country.