ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s tuberculosis community, civil society and celebrities have urged caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to lead at the United Nations high-level meeting on Tuberculosis (TB) as the nation’s fight against the disease required unwavering commitment at the highest levels.

In a press conference on Monday, TB celebrity ambassador Sarmad Khoosat said the disease continued to claim 132 precious lives every day in Pakistan.

“Pakistan ranks as the world’s fifth-highest TB burden country. However, this deadly disease is entirely preventable and curable. Pakistan, as a signatory to the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) 2018 declaration on TB, must now deliver on its commitment to address the crisis. The clock is ticking as the second UNHLM on TB approaches, scheduled for September 22, 2023, in New York, US, where countries will review progress made since the 2018 political declaration on TB,” he said.

“I urge our prime minister to join this historic endeavour and lead us towards a TB-free Pakistan,” he said.

Speakers said other high TB burden countries like India and Indonesia were setting an example by sending their highest-level government representatives to lead their delegations.

Renowned actress Sania Saeed said Pakistan’s delegation should be comprehensive, led by the prime minister, accompanied by officials from the ministries of health and foreign affairs.

Senior Adviser, Stop TB Partnership, Pakistan Syed Karam Shah said coincidentally, on the same date, Mr Kakar is scheduled to deliver a statement to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The TB community earnestly implores the prime minister to prioritise his participation in the TB meeting, demonstrating solidarity with the thousands of lives lost annually to TB in Pakistan,” he said.

Ms Hafsa, a TB survivor, suggested that the government should enhance domestic funding for TB and hold a robust awareness campaign.

Meanwhile, speakers at a webinar said tobacco cessation was not possible without offering cessation services in healthcare centres.

The event was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and the Union for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

Head of Centre for Health and Policy Innovation, SDPI, Syed Ali Wasif Naqvi said the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control mandated states to establish tobacco cessation services.

“Only 30pc of people out of the 780 million smoking quitters have access to such services. Counselling and assistance can double the chances for a person to quit tobacco consumption and these must be provided by states to improve health indicators and reduce tobacco prevalence,” he said.

Senior Technical Adviser, Union for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Khurram Hashmi said high prevalence of tobacco consumption exerted significant strain on healthcare systems and regional collaboration must be leveraged to achieve for sustainable impacts.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023