KARACHI: New Karachi govt hospital registers 600 TB patients
KARACHI, April 26: Over 600 patients of tuberculosis have been registered at DOTS Programme, Sindh Government Hospital New Karachi, with an increase of six to seven new cases every day. The hospital, which caters the healthcare needs of residents of New Karachi and some areas of Gadap Town, is visited by around 100 patients daily. Out of them, 30 to 40 patients are suspected of tuberculosis. Some patients are referred from DOTS Diagnostic Centre at New Karachi Town Health Office and three other treatment centres including Godhra, Aamir Shaheed and Irfan Dispensary beside Nazimabad Chest Clinic.
The in charge of DOTS Programme, Dr Mateen Khan, said that beside 600 registered patients, there were another 50 patients, who used to visit the hospital every morning for therapy, as treatment supporters could not been identified in their areas.
“We are utilizing the services of lady health workers of New Karachi and Gadap Town along with pesh imams. One LHW has been given the responsibility of 10 to 12 TB patients. The pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB (chest, bones, and stomach) is noticed more common in patients. TB is affecting the most productive age groups from 15 to 34 years and the poor families, while some 80 per cent of TB sufferers are females,” he added.
“Out of 600 registered patients, only one case was reported as treatment failure and 10 patients are defaulters, while three patients have died due to TB in last several months. Sputum conversion rate is 98 per cent and after two months of treatment, TB virus often stopped to be found in sputum,” he added.
He said that in the areas of New Karachi and Gadap Town, the whole families were suffered from TB. In most of the cases, he said, patients came to this hospital at very late stage after getting treatment from general practitioners, who did not have sufficient knowledge and skills about proper doze and therapy.
“Many GPs even fail to diagnose TB and start treatment of pneumonia and chest infection. Patients should themselves come to DOTS clinic at Sindh General Hospital in New Karachi or any nearest DOTS centre if they feel symptoms of unexplained cough for more than three weeks, fewer in evenings, blood in sputum and weight lose,” he advised.
Dr Mateen said that there was a big hurdle in the cure of patients that they did not take precautionary measures and avoid to accept the disease. “They think it a deadly disease, but it is not like that. It can be cured. At our hospital, everything is free, beside therapy we also provide breakfast to patients with the help of philanthropists, Idara Tafheemul Quraan of the Alamgir Welfare Trust,” he said.
The chest physician said that a WHO team from Islamabad had visited DOTS Programme at the New Karachi hospital and appreciated the work of doctors terming its performance as the best in the province.
“At present, there is one microscopist, three helpers and diet facilitators. There is need for one more doctor, diet facilitator, lab technician and three helpers for smooth and more efficient functioning of the programme. Due to shortage of staff, we often worked late till 4pm. We have informed the hospital administration, but there is shortage of staff in all departments,” he maintained.
He said that they had also started first time in Pakistan, a very organized DOTS programme for children suffering from tuberculosis. “We have managed medicines from EDO Health Office, TB Control Programme and other resources. There is only difference of doze therapy. We are treating them on clinical grounds by following the national guidelines for treatment TB in children,” he added.—PPI
