SWABI, Dec 24: Tuberculosis is spreading across the Swabi district rapidly despite preventive measures taken by the government such as free treatment of patients. "We have registered 980 patients this year against 800 cases recorded last year," said Dr Sherin Khan, Head of the TB Centre in the Swabi district.

About the allocation of funds by the government to the centre for the purpose, he told Dawn that the centre had got five per cent share from Swabi’s district headquarters hospital and 10 per cent from the Executive District Health Officer.

Giving details, he said most of the cases had been reported from the Gadoon’s mountainous belt.

The centre has provided treatment and diagnostic facilities to 4591 patients since its establishment in 2001.

“This year, in all 2169 patients visited the centre in which 980 suffered from the TB,” he said.

"Each and every registered patient is being given medicines free of cost," he said.

"Without creating awareness among the people about the disease, it's quite difficult to eradicate this menace from society, and the government has appealed to the people to contact the nearest TB control centre to get medicines free of cost, " said Dr Sherin.