Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Chest Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter has observed World TB day and said that every year around 50,000 patients of TB diagnosed in the country.

This was said by Dr Arshid Javeed President Pakistan Chest Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter at Peshawar Press Club on the eve of World TB day on Friday.

He said that this year the theme of the day was “United to End TB”, adding that on every 24th March the day is celebrated worldwide to create awareness regarding TB among the masses.

He added that TB is a top infection diseases and killer worldwide while Pakistan is in the list of top five countries where TB disease is on the top.

He shared figures of the Tuberculosis (TB) patients and said that as per WHO report around 96 million people suffered from the disease in 2014 worldwide while 1.3 million people died yearly and 95 per cent deaths occurred in developing and poor countries and mostly women from age 14 to 44 years fallen prey to disease.

“Approximately 1million children affected in TB while 140000 of them took last breathe in 2014” he added.

He acquainted the masses particularly TB patients with MDR that is it a danger form of the disease, which is increasing and about 480000 MDR cases were reported in worldwide in 2014.

Pakistan’s number fifth wherein common TB is found while regarding it is on fourth internationally. He added that about 50000 patients are registered every year in KP. 231 diagnosis and 810 treatment centers working under supervision of provincial TB control program with facility of Directly Observe Treatment Short course make diagnosis and provide medicines to the patients as free of cost.

He told that TB is no longer a deadly disease but a curable epidemic, however the stigma attached with TB need to be removed and the Media can play a vital role in this regard.

The journalists have already been playing an important role to create awareness among the infected patients of TB which needs to be enhanced further with particular regard to removing the stigma attached with the disease, through articles and the TV footages, TB experts observed.

They said that TB was a curable disease but the delay in the treatment could lead to death, they maintained that no doubt Tuberculosis was a danger disease but if the patients of TB treated on time, could lead a normal and healthy life.

However, they said the effective management of the TB patient was only possible when the infected person contacted the doctors for diagnosis in time, which ensured free treatment for him or her spanning over eight months.

Feeling shy and ashamed, the TB patients who hesitate to consult the medics not only put their lives at stake but also cause danger for the other healthy people of the society.

They said the female folk were the major sufferer in that regard as the uncalled for fear often hindered contacting marriages which was altogether a wrong conception.

Central Secretary General PCS Dr Sadia Ashraf, General Secretary provincial chapter Shahid Afridi, central Secretary Information Dr Taj Muhammad and Coordinator Khyber Pakhtunkhwa TB Control Programe (KP-TBCP) Dost Muhammad were also present on the occasion.