TB in Balochistan: Lack of health knowledge is the cause behind increase, says Dr Raisani

Adds the situation in Balochistan is comparatively worse than other provinces.

QUETTA: Lack of basic health knowledge amongst the people of Balochistan causing an increase in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), said Dr Manzoor Raisani during a workshop organised by Association for Community Development at Quetta Press Club on Wednesday.

Raisani, a Nursing Superintendent at Fatima Jinnah TB Sanatorium added that there is only one hospital in the province providing proper treatment to patients suffering from TB.

“As many as 15 to 20 people are diagnosed at the TB Sanatorium on a daily basis. This highlights the grim situation in the province. In most of the cases, patients carelessly stop taking drugs after two months as the pain and coughing go away. But they remain vulnerable because it takes eight months of drug intake to completely get rid of TB,” he said.

While giving details, Raisani said that the situation in Balochistan is comparatively worse than other provinces as its people do not take precautionary measures. He said basic health units or district headquarters hospitals refer TB patients to Quetta for treatment. “Most of the cases are reported in Pishin, Mastung and Kharotabad area of Quetta,” he added.

According to Raisani, the shortage of medicines in interior Balochistan is another factor. “Government and other NGOs are trying their best to make things better but the main problem is lack of education, as people know nothing about the disease,” he said.

Raisani added that awareness will automatically help in controlling the disease.