CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health Organisation, the state cannot afford to let its guard down when it comes to battling this contagious ailment. Though public healthcare may not be high on our rulers’ priority list, it is essential to pursue action plans designed to defeat curable and preventable diseases for a healthier, more productive population. In 2023, 10.8m people fell ill with TB across the world; 1.25m of these patients did not survive. TB spreads through the air, and those with diabetes and weak immune systems are particularly vulnerable, as are malnourished individuals. As Pakistan has a high number of malnourished children, this can increase the latter’s chances of contracting TB. The use of tobacco and alcohol can also up the risk of contracting TB. What is more alarming is that multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB strains are increasing, largely because of improper prescription practices on the part of doctors, and a tendency among patients not to complete their course of medicines. In fact, the rise of ‘superbugs’ resistant to antibiotics is not limited to TB; MDR typhoid also presents a significant public health challenge.

There are various steps that can be taken to strengthen efforts to reduce and perhaps eliminate TB as a public health hazard in Pakistan. These include the promotion of better personal hygiene — which is key to the prevention of multiple ailments — as well as better ventilation, as TB is transmitted through the air. Moreover, the state needs to push for greater vaccine coverage, as the BCG vaccine, which is part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, can help prevent TB in babies and toddlers. Aside from prevention, there must also be focus on curing TB patients. In this respect, it is essential that those diagnosed with TB take their medication as prescribed by a medical professional. Stopping midway will only complicate matters, therefore, public awareness campaigns, particularly in areas with high TB prevalence, should stress that medical instructions regarding the drug dosage regimen must be strictly followed. Through vaccination, testing and following the proper regimen, TB can be defeated. If left unattended, hundreds of thousands of new TB cases will be added each year to the existing cases, compromising the quality of life, and adding to Pakistan’s disease burden.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024