PESHAWAR, Sept 3: Experts have said that TB is a curable disease and patients should continue their treatment for eight consecutive months under the directly-observed treatment short (Dots) course.

“Treatment of TB patients along with diagnostic facilities is freely available in the province. The patients should contact the nearest TB centres to get free diagnostic and treatment facilities,” Dr Abdul Ghafoor, manager of the provincial TB control programme said while speaking at the inaugural session of the “Management Training Course” for the District TB Officers of province on Saturday.

He also suggested that the patients should contact authorities concerned to collect data of multi-drug resistant TB patients so that a mechanism could be evolved to offer them free treatment.

He said that anti-TB drugs worth Rs21 million had been provided to all districts.

He said that 100 per cent DOTS coverage had been made available in the province.

He said that 9,662 patients were provided free medicines during the current year and the number would be enhanced to 20,000 by December.

The patients should continue treatment for eight months, he said. He pointed out that discontinuation and resumption of treatment caused multi-drug resistance which was incurable, he added.

He said that the number of patients seeking treatment had been increasing in the province, which meant that awareness campaign regarding the ailment had been a success.

He stressed the need for coordination among various health organizations.

He also called for involving religious circles in the TB control drive.

On the occasion Dr Jalilur Rehman, Director- General of Prvincial Health Services said that service management training would build the professional capabilities of the officers.

He called upon the officers to extend their best services for improving the health of the people.

Dr Sameh Yousuf, team leader of GTZ explained the details of the course. He said that it had been designed after carrying out training needs assessment by the experts.

He said that learning management skills was essential for health managers.

He hoped that officers would be able to do their work more efficiently after completion of the course.