Respiratory diseases: Doctors deliberate on reducing cases

Panel formed to recommend curbs on tobacco use.

ISLAMABAD:

The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) is on the rise and Pakistan now ranks fourth in terms of the highest number of cases in the world, moving up four places from its previous position.

This was said by Prof. Muhammad Naeem Agha, former president of Pakistan Chest Society, while address the closing ceremony of a four-day Biennial Conference on Lung Diseases, organised by the Pakistan Chest Society, at a local hotel on Monday.

“It is estimated that over 400,000 new cases of TB are reported in Pakistan every year,” he stated. He expressed concern over the rapid spread of respiratory diseases, including TB, ailments caused by pollution, tobacco dependence and active and passive hazards of smoking, allergies and asthma.

Prof. Kamran Chima, the newly-elected president of Pakistan Chest Society, said the prevalence of TB has risen to 276 cases per 100,000, and suggested an aggressive campaign against multi-drug resistant TB.

On the last day of the event, a committee was formed to make recommendations to curb tobacco usage in Pakistan, which will be presented before the National Assembly and Senate.



The committee will be chaired by National Tobacco Alliance Chairman Dr Javaid A Khan.

Participants decided that the Pakistan Chest Society would formulate recommendations to control health hazards caused by indiscriminate use of hormones in poultry feed, breeding cattle and various foodstuffs which are responsible for causing an increase in hormonal disorders.

The panel will also give suggestions to control pollution-induced diseases.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.