9,505 TB cases reported in Balochistan

Balochistan implementing WHO plan to rid province of disease

QUETTA:

Balochistan Tuberculosis Control Programme Manager Dr Nasir Ali Sheikh has revealed that approximately 9,505 TB cases were reported throughout the province during the prevailing coronavirus pandemic.

TB is a disease caused by bacteria that attacks the lungs and also other parts of the body. However, it is a treatable ailment but can prove to be fatal in some cases.

While addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the Quetta Press Club on the occasion of World TB Day, Dr Sheikh said early detection of the disease in patients can prevent its spread of the disease. “The diagnosis and treatment of all the affected patients has been ensured as per the instructions of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal and efforts are also being made to rid the province of this disease once and for all.”

Director General of Health Dr Ali Nasir Bugti, Dr Saeedullah of the Mercy Corps, Dr Asfandyar Sherani, Provincial Deputy Programme Manager TB Control Programme Dr Simeen Gul Baloch and SPOK Imdad Ali also accompanied him at the presser.

He highlighted that a German scientist named Dr Robert Koch had discovered the bacteria that caused TB on March 24 in 1882. “To eradicate the disease, we need to keep fighting it. A TB patient can transmit the disease to 10 to 15 people a year.”

Dr Sheikh added that the provincial TB control programme was implementing a five-year strategic plan under the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines to rid Balochistan of the disease.

“TB patients were diagnosed in 138 centres from all the districts of the province. The government and private sector hospitals in 16 districts consisting of 225 doctors are being provided free treatment to patients,” he informed, adding that 32 TB centres in different districts have been provided with Gene-Expert machines for diagnosing the disease.

“TB is dangerous and expensive to treat. After it is completely diagnosed, it needs to be treated with expensive medicine. Travel expenses for commuting to the TB facility are also being provided at Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital, Quetta General Hospital and DHQ Loralai,” Dr Sheikh said.

The Indus Hospital Karachi has launched a globally launched project called “Eliminate TB” in collaboration with the Global Fund for TB Eradication, which includes identifying potential TB patients through state-of-the-art digital x-ray machines installed in mobile vans.

Four TB centres have been set up in Turbat, Loralai, Bolan Medical Complex Quetta and Hub control vulnerabilities through research on TB performance in the province.

“TB control programme Mercy Corps, Indus Hospital Karachi, S. A diagnostic test camp was organised for TB infected people, families, prisoners and drug addicts in collaboration with PO and Green Social Marketing,” Dr Sheikh added.

He further said that an awareness campaign would be launched to expand regional cooperation for the TB control programme. “In order to implement the long-term plan by reducing the dependence on foreign aid, legislation has been prepared and submitted to the government for approval to prevent the misuse of TB drugs at the private level and to identify TB at the government level for private diagnosis.”

On the occasion, Director General Health Dr Bugti thanked the organisation for providing technical and financial assistance in this regard.

He said that six vehicles have been provided to the health department for Quetta and 24 other districts of Balochistan for carrying out TB diagnosis among the public. “Every kind of medicine used to fight TB has also been provided to patients.”

Dr Bugti added that in the last three months, he has taken steps to restore good governance, transparency and merit in the health department. “The shortcomings faced by the people are due to negligent officers of the department who will be held accountable for their actions.”

In response to a question, Dr Sheikh said Jaffarabad district, Jhal Magsi and Killa Abdullah are the most affected with TB. “We need to provide awareness and treatment to the people in this regard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2021.