KARACHI, March 21: By June this year, DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment) coverage in Sindh would reach 70 per cent with all the health department facilities providing the service under the Sindh Tuberculosis Control Programme.

This was stated by WHO Operations Officer Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi while talking to a joint review mission of the WHO and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases. The mission comprises Dr Akihiro Seita, regional adviser WHO/EMRO, Dr Sallah Ottmani from WHO Geneva and Prof Donald A Enarson, Chairman, Scientific Committee IUATLD Paris.

Dr Syed Karam Shah, manager, National TB Control Programme, also accompanied the team to WHO Karachi office.

Dr Kazi, who is also the Sindh Manager for TB control, said that other government, semi-government and private health facilities would also be involved in phases to make the programme more comprehensive.

He said 9,694 cases registered under DOTS in 2001 are being adequately followed and the initial outcome of the DOTS strategy was very encouraging even in difficult and remote areas of the province.

He informed the mission that a network of laboratories was being augmented with a provincial referral laboratory at the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, with the support of the federal government.

He, however, maintained that the appointment of laboratory coordinators at the provincial and district levels, along with new microscopes, was required for strengthening TB control network and maintaining a national TB registry.

He said an amount of Rs 600 million was at the disposal of federal and provincial governments for improving the infrastructure required for TB Control in the country.

Director, Sindh TB Control, Dr Ghulam Nabi Khokhar, told the members of the international mission that a comprehensive DOTS programme would be enforced in Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Karachi and Larkana by May this year and hoped that the Nazims and DCOs would provide the support needed for the programme.

Director-General Health Dr Fateh M Khan called on the health officials in the DOTS districts to properly own the programme.

He also stressed the importance of regular monitoring and supervision, as crucial for the success of the programme. He pointed out that the government has already waived all fees for basic investigations for TB suspects.

The mission visiting the country in connection with the forthcoming World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, took a round of TB Centres in Karachi and Hyderabad for an in-depth review of the programme. It also visited the Nazimabad Chest Clinic, and appreciated the efforts of the medical and para-medical staff in the delivery of DOTS.

Prof Donald Enrason said that the progress undertaken in Sindh over the past two years and the speed with which DOTS coverage was being expanded was very encouraging. He felt that Pakistan had a remarkable infrastructure and the Lady Health Workers Programme could contribute significantly towards the TB Control Programme.

Dr Karam Shah said that a commitment at all levels was needed for the continued success of the programme and felt that there was room for improving the monitoring and supervision of DOTS system at the district levels.