FUJIFILM India flags off Tuberculosis screening CSR initiative in Valsad

FUJIFILM India, a leading imaging company, flags off their recent CSR Campaign for Tuberculosis Screening in Valsad, Gujarat with a commitment to strengthen the government’s effort of “TB Harega Desh Jeetega”. Spanning over a period of 10 months and focusing on 2 districts, of Banaskantha & Valsad, the initiative aims to reach underprivileged communities in the industrial pockets, mining belts, villages and semi-rural areas where tuberculosis (TB) remains a persistent health concern. The flag-off for the Valsad TB Screening Mobile Vehicle was done by the District Collector of Valsad Ms. Kshipra S. Agre from the District Collectorate, along with the  Valsad District Development Officer Shri Manish Gurwani.

According to the India TB Report 2023, India reported an all-time high of 24.2 lakh TB cases in 2022, marking a 13% increase as compared to the numbers in 2021. This highlights the necessity of strengthening TB awareness and prevention efforts where FUJIFILM India with its latest initiative #Where Innovation Meets Care aims to strengthen government efforts. Nestled in the Gujarat state of India, Valsad  boasts of a current estimated population of 157,000. In this dynamic setting, tuberculosis (TB) detection assumes paramount significance.

With the Tuberculosis Screening Initiative, FUJIFILM India enters the third phase of its ongoing tuberculosis screening program. The heart of this initiative lies in targeted tuberculosis screening across the impoverished district by employing innovative methods such as HRA-based screening through skilled healthcare workers and chest X-rays utilizing Fujifilm’s FDR-Xair technology. The FDR Xair is a lightweight handheld X-ray system featuring the FDR DEVO, boasting high sensitivity in its detector system, ensuring low patient dose and superior image quality, while also equipped with AI for immediate on-the-spot results Incorporating cutting-edge technology, the program will utilize radiologist reading for all X-Rays along with NAT testing for sputum testing, offering rapid and precise TB detection. Apollo Telemedicine Network Foundation is the Implementing partner for this activity along with The Union which is the Technical Partner.

Talking about the initiative, Mr. Shansuke Honda, Senior Manager, Business Advisor – Healthcare Business, said, “We firmly believe that true, ground-level impact comes from nurturing communities and making collective progress. As a healthcare company, our endeavor is to support India’s mission of becoming a TB-free country by 2025. We’re positive that we can eradicate this disease with our finest healthcare technologies and a holistic approach. Together with our dedicated partners and the spirit of 'TB Harega, Desh Jeetega,' we're determined to make TB a thing of the past in Valsad.”

Adding on, Mr. Abhi Shekhar Singh, Vertical Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, said, “FUJIFILM India’s Tuberculosis Screening Initiative is a testament to our vision to serve the society in which we operate. The Sustainable Value Plan 2030 guides us on how to realize a sustainable society and the CSR activity has been crafted under this vision to reach the people at the last mile with our efforts and technology. For a CSR Activity of this scale, there are many partners who have guided us, supported us including the government machinery and I am sure with the support from all we would be able to reach the objective of over 20,000 screening and approximately 8000 NAT tests”.

Additionally, to build community mobilization and awareness, the campaign will be organizing public meetings, conducting extensive awareness campaigns, distributing informational brochures, and engaging local influencers in the region. To that effect, community leaders will actively advocate for TB screening to establish that the importance of early detection is widely understood. Moreover, to reach inaccessible areas effectively, the initiative will feature mobile units equipped with two Type B ambulances, consisting of essential medical facilities.

Earlier last month, FUJIFILM India launched its pioneering mobile van in Banaskantha, Gujarat, kickstarting the fight against tuberculosis in underprivileged areas. The event featured the van's inauguration by Shri Varunkumar Baranwal, District Collector, and Shri Swapnil Khare, District Development Officer, marking a crucial step in addressing TB in marginalized communities.