PESHAWAR, Nov 11: Germany will provide a 6.1 million euro grant to the NWFP health department to strengthen its TB control programme. An agreement to this effect was signed here on Friday by Provincial Health Secretary Abdus Samad Khan and German bank KFW’s Senior Regional Manager Jens Clausen, said an official handout.
Provincial Manager, TB Control Programme, Dr Abdul Ghafoor; head of development cooperation section, German Embassy, Jutta Burghard; and high-ups of planning and development and health departments were present on the occasion.
Under the agreement, the KFW will provide 6.1 million euro to the NWFP government to enhance TB diagnostic and treatment facilities in the province during the next four years.
A PC-1 of the programme has been approved by the provincial and federal governments.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan appreciated Germany’s assistance and said that it would help in containing TB in the province.
He expressed the hope that Germany would continue to support the provincial government in improving the health sector.
MEETING: Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the health secretariat on Friday to review the fight against TB in the province.
Director-General health Dr Jalilur Rehman presided over the meeting and Dr Sabira Tehseen represented the National TB Control Programme. District nazims, district coordination officers and executive district officers (health) attended the meeting.
Dr Ghafoor informed the participants about the efforts being taken to control the disease in the province and said that special measures had been taken in the quake-hit areas to provide diagnostic and treatment facilities to the people on priority basis.
He said that the provincial TB Control Programme had achieved the target set by the World Health Organization but added that more efforts were needed to stem the tide of the ailment in some districts.
Dr Rehman urged the participants to speed up the efforts, especially in the quake-affected areas, so the people could be provided with diagnostic and treatment facilities.