QUETTA: Provincial manager of the TB Control Programme Dr Asif Shahwani has said that spread of the disease can be curbed by creating awareness about it among the people.
He said testing facilities for TB patients in all basic health units (BHUs) in Quetta and provision of treatment facilities to them were among the priorities. “Balochistan TB Control Programme provides free treatment to more than 11,000 people annually,” he added.
“This year, 22 TB screening camps will be set up in each division during the three months of TB screening,” Dr Shahwani said.
He said that the capacity of staff was being enhanced by training the medical officers, doctors and laboratory staff of BHUs so that they could provide better test and treatment facilities to the patients.
Dr Shahwani said that no training had been given to the employees of TB Control Programme in Balochistan for four years and now training was being given to the employees of all districts of the province.
He said that TB was a 100 per cent treatable disease and “we should continue to treat patients with restraint”. He said that the spread of the disease could be prevented by ensuring implementation of preventive measures.
He advised TB patients to avoid spitting in places and cover their mouth, nose with tissue and sleeve while coughing and sneezing.
Dr Shahwani said that Pakistan ranked 5th in the list of countries spreading TB worldwide.
Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022
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