KARACHI, Nov 5: Pakistan is currently listed among the six countries where the problem of tuberculosis is alarmingly high.

This was stated by health experts at a workshop on the findings of a survey related to the gender perspective in knowledge, attitude and practices concerning tuberculosis in Pakistan. The workshop was organized jointly by Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE), the T.B. Control Programme and the World Health Organization on Tuesday in Karachi.

In her presentation on the topic, Dr Mobina Agbotwala, chairperson of HOPE, said the disease killed more women than those who died in all the cases of maternal mortality combined, and in the year 1998, 0.75 million women across the globe perished due to TB-related problems .

She said that women in their reproductive years were more prone to get the disease compared to men in the same age-group.

Pointing out that women had less access to health facilities, she said that in order to overcome the problem, culturally sensitive health education was important for counselling T.B patients.

She said a survey conducted in Baldia Town Karachi and Tando Jam Hyderabad had revealed that knowledge regarding TB was deficient in urban as well as rural areas; most men and women generally believed that TB affected drug addicts.

Dr Ghulam Nabi Khokhar, in charge TB Control Programme Sindh, said that in Pakistan 60,000 deaths were reported every year caused by the deadly disease. Explaining the role and responsibilities of national and provincial programmes, he said that at the federal level policy guidelines were evolved,technical assistance provided, coordination/ advocacy ensured, monitoring and evaluation carried out and process of research and development implemented, while at the provincial level plans were chalked out, accessing funds ensured and the monitoring and supervision process came into effect.

He said the situation in 2002 was very encouraging as now more than 40 % of people of the country had accessibility to the facility. Referring to the government’s efforts to eliminate TB, he said that national and provincial teams were formed, funds were made available, the five-year strategic plan was prepared, training materials/ desk guides were developed, DOTS was initiated in all the provinces and its progress evaluated.

“Similarly the emergency plan for Afghan refugees was implemented, mass awareness campaigns were launched and the laboratory network was strengthened with the help of WHO which provided technical assistance and World Bank which extended research facilities, JICA and many others”, he added.

Dr G.N. Qazi, coordinator TB Programme Sindh, said that DOTS was implemented late in Pakistan. However, in the last three years it had gained momentum and now a large segment of the population was benefiting from the scheme. “In Sindh the ratio of DOTS coverage is nearly 70 per cent. In the entire country it is 40 per cent, which signifies a major development”, he said.—PPI