World Tuberculosis Day: Control targets achieved but eradication requires more, health officials

Share K-P’s progress in eradicating TB and other responsibilities such as polio immunisation.

PESHAWAR:

Addressing a seminar for World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Monday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Health Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said TB eradication was a serious challenge while other department officials shared the province’s progress in this regard.

Secretary Health Ghulam Qadir Khan informed that the Provincial TB Control Programme has achieved the target for case diagnosis of 68% and treatment success rate of 94%, which are in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.



He stressed that meeting these targets was only part of the solution. The availability of free anti-TB drugs and skilled healthcare workers at diagnostic and treatment centres was needed to sustain these targets. “We must continue with the same spirit and improve the quality of free services,” Khan said.

The health minister said that TB eradication required that the resources necessary to improve the public Health Sector be utilised.

Speaking at a hotel in the city, Yousafzai directed Secretary Health to appoint District TB Officers in Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Mansehra and three other districts.

Director General Health Services Dr S Abdul Waheed Shah Burki also spoke on the occasion and said that the K-P health department has established 232 Basic Management Units (diagnostic centers) and 810 treatment centres all over the province. He informed the audience that anti-TB drugs and diagnostic facilities were provided free of cost (for patients from selected private health clinics in specified districts).

“In 2013, TB Control Programme Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was able to register 38,803 patients with 94% treatment success rate. WHO has estimated about 1,200 cases of Multi Drug Resistance TB (MDR-TB) annually in the province. The program’s target is to enhance the capacity of the public and private sector to detect and manage 80% of the estimated smear positive MDR-TB incident cases by 2017,” said Dr Ubaid Hussain, the TB Control Programme’s Project Director.

The provincial minister for health also distributed shields of acknowledgement among professionals for their contribution to TB eradication. He acknowledged the support of German Development Bank (KFW), National TB Control Program, WHO, Global Fund, EPOS, ACD and ASD and thanked all the implementing partners who contributed in achieving the goals.

On public health

Speaking on polio, Health Minister Yousafzai said that 1.6 million children would be given anti-polio drops in one single day.

He further said that the department has taken steps to ensure transparency in the newly-formed Insulin Bank. The first in the province, the Insulin bank will provide free treatment to diabetic patients. Yousafzai also informed that district hospitals had been given autonomy while Hepatitis centres would be established soon, and K-P’s first burns center was set for completion in May, 2014.

He urged the public to participate in the walk organised for March 25 in Peshawar, to raise awareness on dengue.

On peace talks

Later, while talking to media, Shaukat Yousafzai said that the provincial government was hopeful for the success of peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) but those who were critical of negotiations were trying to sabotage these talks. “We must work together to stop them,” he said.

Replying to a question on Hazara province resolution, the minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in favour of new administrative provinces, and had suggested to change “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa” to “Hazara-Pakhtunkhwa.”

The audience included representatives of the health department, donor agencies and implementing partners of the Provincial TB Control Programme, along with experts on TB and chest diseases, teachers and students.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.