SHIKARPUR, March 3 Tuberculosis (TB) is dangerous disease but curable if detected early and treated continuously for eight months without gap, said speakers at a media training workshop.

The WHO report puts Pakistan sixth among 22 countries facing the TB problem with 250,000 people suffering from the disease, said speakers.

The workshop was organised by the Mercy Corps Sindh Region in collaboration with Development Institutions Network at the press club, here on Monday.

Representatives of print and electronic media of the district attended the workshop. Speakers highlighted objectives, activities and network of programme Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) aimed at eradicating the TB.

Regional Development Officer, Larkana Roshan Ali Panhwar, District Coordinator Dr Abdul Rauf Memon, Mujahid Bhutto and Ms Sabra Soomro of Development Institutions Network Shikarpur said the Mercy Corps began its network under DOTS programme on volunteer basis in four districts in Sindh Shikarpur, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Jacobabad and nine in Balochistan.

The programme was being funded by European Commission to eradicate the TB, they said.

They said seven diagnostic centres had been set-up in Shikarpur district where patients were examined to ascertain prevalence of disease.

At preliminary stage patient is checked thrice before treatment and four times while undergoing treatment, they said.

They advised the patients to benefit from these diagnostic centres and get admissions at the Civil Hospital Shikarpur and other government hospitals for free of cost treatment.

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