RAWALPINDI, March 23: The Rawalpindi district is showing a steady progress in fight against tuberculosis (TB). The case detection and treatment success rate have been achieved due to improved drug management, community mobilization, involving tertiary care hospitals, NGOs and intersectoral organizations.

Data gathered by Dawn in connection with the observance of World TB Day on 24 March showed that the National TB Control Programme had set a target to achieve 70 per cent diagnosis of TB patients in the Rawalpindi district under the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) Strategy approved by the World Health Organization, and has so far achieved 45 per cent of the target.

Due to awareness, social mobilization and community participation, the treatment success rate of smear positive patients has increased to 85 per cent, and at the same time cases of defaulters also started to decline, according to Dr Shama Firdous, TB Coordinator, Rawalpindi district.

Since May 2005, when DOTS reached all over, free diagnostic and treatment facilities for TB patients, including free medicines are available at four district headquarters hospitals, 10 rural health centres, and 97 basic health units in the district. To ensure daily DOTS, different cadres of health workers were being trained to deal with TB cases. The treatment facilities were also being extended to municipal dispensaries and social security hospitals.