HYDERABAD, Dec 20: Tuberculosis claims the life of around 62,000 people a year in Pakistan while two to three million people die every year around the world.

This was disclosed by Consultant of World Health Organisation, Dr. Nazeer Shaikh, while addressing Tuberculosis Conference organised under Media Awareness Programme by Provincial Tuberculosis Programme Sindh at Hyderabad Press Club.

Dr. Nazeer called upon the media to play an active role in creating awareness about controlling and preventing the disease. The TB patients should also strictly follow the prescription of the consultants keeping the fact in mind that though it takes a long time, the disease, however is treatable.

He said the anti- TB hospitals and clinics are offering free treatment to the patients and by taking advantage of such humanitarian services the patients could improve and save their lives. Dr. Nazeer said the scourge of TB was never eradicated because human beings were its host. Tuberculosis virus could be transmitted through breathing and coughing, he said.

The WHO consultant said the National TB Control Programme had been engaged in involving general practitioners to support government’s endeavour to eliminate the disease.

Another speaker of the conference Dr. Raje Ayoob said TB is a poor-specific disease that ultimately leads to death of the patient if the person concerned avoids to take interest in treatment. “Nevertheless, the disease today is 100 per cent curable”, he added. He said a TB patient starts feeling a marked improvement within one or two months of treatment but the patient should continue treatment for eight months.

He said some of the patients do not complete the treatment due to which they develop “multi-drug resistant TB”, which is extremely dangerous.

Dr. Raje Ayoob said treatment of TB is easy but the patients suffer extreme social stigma due to which they feel embarrassed of being called a TB patient by their near and dear ones.

He said it is the responsibility of the media, religious scholars and the community elders to strive their level best to remove such stigma associated with the disease.

Dr. Raje said the people having persistent cough for three weeks, low grade fever, night sweating, loss of weight and appetite and blood in sputum should immediately contact TB specialists for checking.

He said the sputum microscopy is the best diagnosis, which is being conducted free of cost in public sector health facilities.

Another speaker, Dr. Rafique Qureshi said in such a situation more responsibility lies with Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) and NGOs working in this field and added that they are supposed to inform and motivate the community and also to provide professional assistance.

He said community participation in government programmes for a healthy atmosphere is essential to have a healthy nation in future.

About the objectives of the conference, he said its main purpose is to create awareness among the print and electronic media to play their role to highlight this cause.

Later eminent consultants briefed the participants about the diseases with a view to create awareness among the masse.

The conference was attended by doctors, LHVs, representatives of NGOs and community leaders, who also delivered their informative speeches about tuberculosis.—APP