Pakistan 8th among TB-hit countries: official

With the highest burden of Tuberculosis (TB) patients, Pakistan is ranked 8th among the TB-hit countries across the globe.

The government, in line with its commitments to the International Standard of DOTs’ strategies, has taken adequate measures for elimination of the disease, stated Dr Riazuddin Mahsud, a senior health official, while talking to this scribe.

Dr Riazuddin, the district TB control officer, said TB cases in Pakistan were estimated to be 300,000 annually, most of them lungs problem. A statistical data reveals that 75 percent among the TB patients are youth troubled with worst economic constraints besides lack of awareness.

Efficient monitoring procedure on the part of local TB control units, about 100 TB cases were being registered in Tank quarterly, most of them suffering from lungs TB. However, Dr Riaz deplored that lack of awareness among the masses was also a problem to be solved.

To a query, he elaborated that over 1,300 patients had successfully been treated in Tank. Dr Riaz said that apart from planning for counselling and treatment with the support of its partners, the NWFP Directorate of Health had set up a number of diagnostic and treatment centres across the province.

Referring to statistical data about TB Control Programme in Tank, he said concerted efforts were being made for TB elimination. For the purpose, he said, four diagnostic and 10 treatment centres had been set up across the district.

Besides free medication, the units are equipped with well-facilitated laboratories to provide qualitative pathological and clinical test facilities. Riazuddin Mahsud also said effective measures under the auspices of DOTS had improved the situation. He said social mobilisation and support of awareness through mass media campaign could boost the drive against TB.