TB Week

World TB week kicked at Chitral.

CHITRAL: To eradicate the disease and raise awareness among the masses regarding Tuberculoses (TB) world TB week kicked at Chitral. Member Provincial Assembly Haji Ghulam Muhammad was chief guest on the occasion while the ceremony was presided over by Miftahuddin  ACO Chitral. The campaign was jointly initiated by Govt. health department Chitral and Aga Khan Health Services Pakistan (AKHSP). Addressing on the occasion MPA Chitral Ghulam Muhammad thanked the federal Government for considering special fund in (National Financial Commission) NFC award on land basis as comparative on population basis in past. He said that Chitral is a big district by virtue of     land having 14850 square kilometers land but its population is less than 4 Lacs. He assured of his full support regarding fulfillment of vacant posts of Doctors and solving other problems of health department on priority basis because a healthy society can play vital role in uplifting of the country. He highly hailed meritorious services rendering by AKHSP regarding providing health facilities to entire community of Chitral even in some remote and non accessible areas of the district. He also declared that they would be supported at each field. He  stressed on parliamentarians of Chitral for mutual harmony, unity and joint efforts for development of the area irrespectively to their  political affiliations.

Dr. Noorul Islam district TB control Officer who was also performing as stage secretary said that TB is an infectious disease which is spreading from one person to other through aspiration system. He said female are most affected and dying from TB because of male dominating society.  He said that 50 million patients affected of multi drug resistance (MDR) due to incomplete dose of TB. Productivity of a TB patients decreasing which is causing for increasing of poverty in the society. He said that standardized strategy of DOTS introduced in 2002 at Chitral to overcome on this disease. He said that for this purpose 15 diagnosis and 22 treatment centers were opened under TB control program at Chitral. As well as we also arranged campaign on advocacy and communication social mobilization in 40 high schools of the district. Some 5923 TB patients registered in Chitral while 58 people were died from TB in the district. Hence 7 patients were affected by MDR but we treating 2 patients from our own resources. He said that TB control program in Chitral is supporting by its partner organizations like National and Provincial TB control program, WHO, GTZ, AKHSP, Leprosy Control program and President primary health initiative. Our challenges are less Budget, shortage of staff and frequently posting transfer of trained staff of TB he said while explaining challenges of the program. He said that if we follow Millennium Developmental Goal we can reduce this disease upto 50% and there would be only one patient among 1 million people in 2050. He said that new drug, diagnostic tools and vaccine is introducing for TB control. As well as financial support to poor TB patients and job security is also under process he added. Responding to a question by Mrs Razia Sultana he said that the ratio of TB disease is high in female as comparative in male.

Dr. Salahuddin of AKHSP in his presentation sum up detail of their progress. He said that Aga Khan Health Services have opened 7 diagnostic and 13 treatment centers and 405 people were trained as volunteer support as well as some 130000 population was covered during few years. He said that some 566 patients were diagnosed in their centers due to hard working and continues struggle cure rate increased to 95% and default ratio decreased to 0%. He said that some 3 million patients are affecting from TB in Pakistan each year.

Executive District Officer Health Dr. Sher Qayum said that World Health Organization has declared TB disease as Global Emergency due to its thread towards the society by all aspects. He said that no program is success until its own by government and supported by local community. He expressed his great concern over that no financial support is giving to  TB patients in Chitral which is must for supporting huge families of a TB patient. He said that health units running under Government umbrella are facing acute shortage of staff and some 76 posts of Doctors are lying vacant in Chitral. He stressed on launching an active campaign for eradicating this disease from the region. He said that Afghan refugees and religious Madars (schools) are often missing in Chitral due to lack of resources. He said that TB is 100% curable disease if their treatments continue for 6 to 8 months regularly. Dr. Mir Afzal Tajik head of Professional Development Center at Aghan Khan University Chitral campus said that care is best than cure and health education should to be started from primary level. He said that in western countries experts focus on awareness because most of diseases are creating due to ignorance and lack of awareness among the masses about several diseases.  He said awareness can play vital role in eliminating any disease.

Dr. Gulzar Ahmad children specialist stressed upon mothers to must feed their newly born babies soon after their delivery because mother milk is most important for a child health. He emphasized on local community to must complete vaccination of their children because for saving them from different diseases. Assistant Coordination Officer and Administrator Chitral Miftahuddin stressed upon both health department and AKHSP regarding calling and involvement of religious clerics because they can easily communicate their message to public. At last Rahimullah district Manager of AKHSP thanked to all participants.
A large number of male and female attended the awareness raising workshop on TB.

G.H. Farooqi PO Box No. 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan phone NO. 03025989602, 0943-302295, 414418
Email: gulhamad@gmail.com