Highlighting the public health concern posed by the combined burden of tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco use, the State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC) in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and with technical support from Vital Strategies, organised a divisional-level workshop on TB-Tobacco Integration at the State Institute for Urban Development here ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026.

The workshop brought together district health officers, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) officials, NTEP programme officers and healthcare personnel from districts across the Mysuru division to strengthen the coordination between tobacco control measures and TB elimination efforts.

Officials highlighted the established link between tobacco use and tuberculosis, noting that tobacco users are nearly twice as likely to develop active TB. Continued tobacco consumption during treatment can increase the risk of treatment failure, relapse, and death by nearly three times, they added.

According to officials, over 22.8% of adults in Karnataka — estimated at around 93 to 94 lakh people — use tobacco in some form. However, less than 1.3% currently have access to tobacco cessation services.

The workshop focused on addressing this gap by equipping newly posted district officers with implementation protocols, field-level strategies, and data support to improve intervention and cessation services.

Mallika, Deputy Director, Divisional Joint Director’s Office, stressed the need for coordinated action and said programme convergence at the divisional level was essential for achieving lasting public health outcomes.

Rajni, Deputy Director, Mental Health and NTCP, observed that every TB patient represented an opportunity for tobacco cessation intervention and called for integrating cessation support into routine TB care.

Anil, Deputy Director, NTEP, emphasised that TB elimination efforts cannot succeed unless tobacco use is addressed simultaneously.

DHO Kumaraswamy was present.

The workshop forms part of a State-wide series of divisional programmes organised by STCC Karnataka aimed at ensuring that all TB patients are screened for tobacco use and offered cessation support as part of the broader goal of achieving a “tobacco-free and TB-free Karnataka”.