KARACHI, July 25: The European Union has committed to extend all necessary support for inception of an urban model of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) in Karachi to help develop a role model scheme , which could be replicated at global level on the basis of its performance to contain the growing incidence of the disease.

This was stated by National TB Control Programme Coordinator Dr Karam Ali Shah while addressing the concluding session of a two-day workshop to review the ongoing DOTS programme in the province, held at the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases and Sanitorium.

Dr Ali said that all arrangements had been finalized and the project was almost in its final stage of implementation. He mentioned that a CIDA-sponsored programme had also been envisaged for Karachi to ensure effective involvement of lady health workers in the DOTS programme.

This would also be gradually extended to other parts of Sindh, he added. He said that several NGOs had also been involved in the programmes initiated under the Global Fund for TB and Malaria.

To promote the programme at grassroots levels, Sindh Health Services director-general Dr Hussain Bukhsh Memon said that lady health workers and microbiologists associated with malaria control programme would be engaged for relevant investigation related to tuberculosis.

Besides, he said that it would be ensured that the staff engaged in TB Control Programme were not transferred to other health projects so as to sustain the efforts being made to eradicate the disease.

Dr Hussain Bukhsh mentioned that he himself had some reservations regarding the impact of TB DOTS Programme initially, yet experience showed that it was not so. He underscored equal efforts to remove social stigma associated with the disease.

Responding to some complaints that various public sector laboratories had been charging patients coming for smear sputum tests, the director-general said that a notification for free of cost facilities had already been issued to all government laboratories. He said that these instructions had been strictly implemented.

Addressing at the workshop, WHO Sindh Operation Officer Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi said that success could only be registered at macro level with regard to DOTS programme in the province while efforts were yet to be made to attain success at micro levels.

Elaborating his stance, Dr Kazi said the Universal DOTS coverage and provision for all required facilities was appreciable, but, quality as a bench mark was yet to be established.

He also suggested establishment of more diagnostic centres and more well-trained staff. The director of the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Dr Ashraf Sadiq, also spoke on the occasion. - APP