Transporters to help fight tuberculosis
Bus company employees to be screened, trained about the disease
Bus company employees to be screened, trained about the disease. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) and major transporters of the capital on Thursday reached an understanding to raise awareness against tuberculosis and providing free treatment to passengers and transporters.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between NTP and renowned transport services including Faisal Movers, Skyways, Connect and others.
According to the MoU, NTP will screen employees of these major inter-city bus transporters apart from conducting training sessions to enhance their basic understanding of the disease.
Moreover, under the agreement transporters will be bound to display banners and streamers on their buses and terminals raising awareness about tuberculosis.
The objective of the campaign is to reach out to the less-privileged sections of the society.
As many as 3,000 people travel through buses daily, said NTP Deputy National Manger Aurangzeb Qadir.
During a recent meeting of a parliamentary panel, the NTP National Manager Dr Nasir Mahmood had termed lack of awareness about the improper use of medication as the leading cause of the alarming spread of the disease.
According to the NTP, around 0.5 million tuberculosis cases are reported in Pakistan annually, making it the fifth country with the most number of TB cases. However, a third of the total cases either remain undiagnosed or go un-notified.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2017.
The National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) and major transporters of the capital on Thursday reached an understanding to raise awareness against tuberculosis and providing free treatment to passengers and transporters.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between NTP and renowned transport services including Faisal Movers, Skyways, Connect and others.
According to the MoU, NTP will screen employees of these major inter-city bus transporters apart from conducting training sessions to enhance their basic understanding of the disease.
Moreover, under the agreement transporters will be bound to display banners and streamers on their buses and terminals raising awareness about tuberculosis.
The objective of the campaign is to reach out to the less-privileged sections of the society.
As many as 3,000 people travel through buses daily, said NTP Deputy National Manger Aurangzeb Qadir.
During a recent meeting of a parliamentary panel, the NTP National Manager Dr Nasir Mahmood had termed lack of awareness about the improper use of medication as the leading cause of the alarming spread of the disease.
According to the NTP, around 0.5 million tuberculosis cases are reported in Pakistan annually, making it the fifth country with the most number of TB cases. However, a third of the total cases either remain undiagnosed or go un-notified.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2017.