Call to check spread of tuberculosis

By
AFP
|
Call to check spread of tuberculosis
HYDERABAD: Tuberculosis is claiming the deaths of around 68 thousand male and female persons in Pakistan among 0.418 million affected people and the numbers of Tuberculosis patients could be reached ten to fifteen times high, if no effective strategy prepared to control Tuberculosis in the country.

It was informed by the speakers at Tuberculosis Awareness Seminar, organized by the Directorate of Tuberculosis Control Sindh here at Dialdas Club on Saturday in connection with the World Tuberculosis Day.

Earlier, the Directorate of Tuberculosis Sindh arranged a walk from Hyderabad Gymkhana to Hyderabad Press Club with participation of the people from different segments of life.

Addressing the participants of the seminar, National Programme Officer WHO Sindh Dr. Salim Kazmi, Ex-National Programme Dr. (Captain) Nazir Ahmed Shaikh, Deputy Director Directorate of Tuberculosis Control Sindh Dr. Aijaz Talpur, District Health Officer Dr. Bakhsh Ali Pitafi, President District Anti-TB Association Hyderabad Dr.Abdul Samad Libyawala and Dr. Nusrat Samejo informed that each Tuberculosis patient can affect ten to fifteen more healthy persons in the country therefore, the numbers of tuberculosis patients could be reached ten to fifteen times high if the planners failed to adopt comprehensive strategy for its control.

They informed that not in Pakistan, Tuberculosis is also a threat in other countries of the world as according to survey, the disease affecting nine million patients with deaths of 1.7 million among them every year in various parts of the world.

They said that though Tuberculosis in one of the deadly diseases, but it could be treated through cure and care. An eighth months long Tuberculosis treatment known as DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) is available in the country and the Tuberculosis patients could live the normal life again after completion of this treatment, they added.

They informed that the government is upgrading the Tuberculosis treatment hospitals and so far three hospitals of Sindh have been upgraded with Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) System, which included Indus Hospital Karachi, Ojha Institute Karachi and Institute of Chest Diseases Kotri. With the assistance of Global Fund, survey and research programme has been initiated for which, doctors have been selected and getting training for treatment of Tuberculosis on modern line, they informed and added that efforts are also being made to treat the children which have been affected by Tuberculosis for which, the Directorate of Tuberculosis Sindh has selected doctors from 13 districts of the province and providing training of Tuberculosis treatment for children.

They informed that the Directorate has also established Tuberculosis Treatment Centres in all central prisons of Sindh to provide Tuberculosis treatment to affected prisoners. The Directorate is also managing 270 free of cost Tuberculosis Diagnostic Centres and 943 Tuberculosis Treatment Centres in various parts of Sindh province. (APP)