By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: District TB control Programme Chitral has achieved a target even greater than that set by the world health organization (WHO) for the control of tuberculosis, Dr. Noorul Islam said. Addressing a seminar for media on the occasion of world TB day here on Monday, the district TB control officer Chitral said that the programme was started in October 2002 and so far treated 4130 TB patients with the success rate of 93.5 percent while the required rate is 70 percent fixed by the WHO. He said that direct observation treatment strategy (DOTS) has been extended to the hundred patients in the district and it was due to this story of success that the district programme was awarded by the government last year. Regarding the activities of the district programme, he said that there are 15 diagnostic centers and 22 treatment centers situated in every nook and corner of the district where free diagnostic facilities and medicines are provided to the infected persons. He said that a good number of doctors, paramedical staff and microscopists have been imparted training to deal the cases of TB patients. He said that under the Advocacy communication social mobilization (ACMS) programme, seminars are held for various segments of the society to enlist their support to achieve the target. He said that the disease has got social stigma associated with it and the members of the society feel shy hesitate to help the infected with TB. He said that this negative attitude must be changed and every one must rush forward to strive collectively against the deadly disease which causes poverty in the society. He said that the district programme is supported by Aga Khan Health Service, GTZ (a German NGO), President Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI). District medical specialist Dr. Ruknuddin described about the disease in its historical prospective and said that complete eradication of TB is not possible at the time but by preventive measures and collective efforts, we can mitigate its affects and control its frequency. He said that the structure of the living rooms in Chitral is such that it is less exposed to sunlight and this provides ideal environment for the growth of mycobacterium which causes TB infection. He said that the number of TB patients in the Kalash valley is very less which is due to their structure of houses as these cross ventilated and very much exposed to sunlight. He said that the disease must be treated as one of the social problems and media can play its vital role in this regard. The chief guest of the seminar, district naib nazim Sultan Shah expressed his determination that the district government will extend all possible held to the TB programme. He said that poverty reigns supreme in Chitral but the number of TB infected persons here is very less which shows the efficiency of the TB control programme. He eulogized the roles played by certain NGOs in waging war against TB in the district. Dr. Gulzar Ahmed, union nazim Abdul Qayum Baig, Moulana Israruddin Al-Hilal, Dr. Salahuddin, Haji Akbar Khan and Zahiruddin also spoke on the occasion and highlighted different aspects of TB control strategy in the district.