Pindi sees alarming rise in TB patients

The Federal Government TB Hospital’s daily outpatient department has seen a significant increase in tuberculosis (TB) patients, with 200 patients seeking treatment daily.

Awareness campaigns, free tests, and free treatment facilities have been further extended as an alarming situation has arisen with the increase in cases of pulmonary TB, affecting the lungs, and extra pulmonary TB, manifesting as bone and joint ailments.

Medical Superintendent of TB Hospital, Dr Imtiaz Ali Memon, said that at present pulmonary TB, also known as TB of the lungs, is increasing rapidly among the people. “Smoking and several other factors cause this disease. Moreover, TB can strike even when the body’s immunity is low, and infected individuals can transmit the disease to others.”

Many long-term smokers are suspected of having TB which is a curable disease if diagnosed promptly and treated properly, Dr Memon said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a recovery rate of 95% for TB patients through a six-month course of medication after diagnosis. Rawalpindi Federal Government TB Hospital has achieved an 85% recovery rate among its patients.

According to the National Institute of Health report, an alarming 20,000 new cases of TB are being reported every week in Punjab and Sindh. This has been going on for the past four weeks. To combat this growing concern, the focus must shift to prevention. The most effective way to do this is by creating awareness about TB prevention.

According to the National TB Control Programme, a staggering 625,000 cases of TB are detected annually. Of these, approximately 400,000 to 425,000 individuals are formally diagnosed with TB, while a significant 200,000 cases remain undiagnosed.

Dr Memon said that to prevent this disease, key precautionary measures include wearing masks and avoiding spitting in public places to prevent the spread of TB from infected patients. He shared that the World Health Organisation has completed a $15,000 project to upgrade and renovate the TB Hospital building, creating a clean and hygienic environment for patients and disinfecting lights have been installed.

“When a TB patient is identified, we also test their other family members. Once a patient is diagnosed, we register them, issue a card, and provide a phased supply of medications.”

Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains the world’s leading infectious disease killer, sickening 10.6 million people and taking 1.3 million lives annually.

Pakistan ranks fourth among countries with high incident cases of multidrug drug resistant TB as estimated 27,000 new cases are reported every year.