‘Set up core group to control TB’

LAHORE
SECRETARY Health Punjab Jawad Rafique Malik has directed that a core group, consisting of medical experts, health managers and international partners, should be established for the treatment and control of Tuberculosis. The government will provide dedicated staff and financial resources for this purpose. He further said the eradication of diseases and development of health sector was a passion of Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
He said this while addressing a seminar organised by the Punjab Health Department in connection with the World Tuberculosis Day at the Al-Hamra Hall on Thursday, according to a handout.
Provincial Coordinator TB Programme Dr. Abdul Majid gave a presentation regarding steps taken by the Punjab government and way forward to control and treatment of TB. He said that every year nine million people were affected by this bacteria and Pakistan was the fourth country where maximum TB disease was existing. He said that in Pakistan from 15 to 45 years age group people were mostly victims of the TB. He informed the media that under the Direct Observe Treatment Short Course (TB DOTS) Programme, about 559 Basic Management Units (BMUs) were providing facilities to the TB patients whereas 1,248 General Practitioners (GPs) had also been registered under the provincial TB control programme who were providing treatment to patients. He said the scope of this programme was being enhanced.