PESHAWAR, Jan 6: Experts involved in disease control and prevention said on Friday that health workers had a major role to play in the eradication of tuberculosis from the province. “Health workers have a significant role to play as far as awareness of TB is concerned. They should extend all possible help to patients during the process of their diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr Abdul Ghafoor, manager of the provincial tuberculosis control programme, on the concluding day of a six-day workshop here.

The event was organised by the provincial TB control programme on directly-observed treatment short (DOTS) course in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) for lady health supervisors.

About 35,000 new cases of TB are recorded every year in the NWFP and Fata region, according to Dr Ghafoor. Describing the TB incidence as alarming, he said that health workers should change their attitude towards patients so they feel comfortable while visiting the treatment centre.

“Patients require eight months of continuous treatment under the DOTS course. The government has been providing free of charge anti-TB drugs to patients,” he said.

Some 30 lady health supervisors from different parts of the province participated in the workshop.

Dr Nekdad Afridi, national coordinator for Cida/WHO Islamabad, said that TB was curable and called for more awareness to do away with the stigma associated with the ailment.

TB does not spread either through handshakes or sharing of towels and meals. It can however be transmitted by a TB sufferer who sneezes or coughs.

“One TB patient can transmit the disease to 10 to 15 patients per year. So patients are advised to cover their mouth while sneezing or coughing,” he said.

Dr Mohammad Ishaq said that TB infected the lungs, kidneys, brain, heart, bones and other organs of the body. A matter of grave concern is that 80 per cent of TB victims happen to be in the age group of 15-49, which was the most productive age.

According to him, in case a person suffers from continuous coughing, evening sweats associated with fever and pain in the chest, he should contact any nearby treatment centre to undergo the sputum test.

“The sputum test is an easy way to diagnose TB patients,” he said. Dr Taj Mohammad delivered a lecture on the TB situation in Pakistan, its control through DOTs, sputum examination, the role of health supervisors and their job description during the workshop.

He said that during the course of treatment patients should eat a healthy diet.