Govt Providing Free Diagnostics & Treatment Facilities Of Tuberculosis

Provincial Director Punjab TB Control Programme (PTP), Dr Zarfishan Tahir urged the non-governmental organizations working with the PTP as partners for controlling Tuberculosis should further intensify their efforts for surfacing missing TB patients, their registration and treatment.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Nov, 2018 ) :Provincial Director Punjab TB Control Programme (PTP), Dr Zarfishan Tahir urged the non-governmental organizations working with the PTP as partners for controlling Tuberculosis should further intensify their efforts for surfacing missing TB patients, their registration and treatment.

She said that government is providing all facilitates for diagnoses and treatment of TB patients free of cost.

She was presiding over Partner's Day Meeting at the office of Pakistan Anti TB Association (PATA) here on Wednesday.

The meeting reviewed the performance and achievements of Partner NGOs of Punjab TB Control Program working in field for TB control.

The participants also discussed future strategy and way forward in this regard. Representative of Mercy Corps, Green Star, PATA, ASD, PLYC and INDUS were attended the meeting.

Additional Director PTP Dr Asif, Dr Usman, Dr Jaweria, Development Operation Manager Global Fund Zubair Ahmad Shad and President PATA Ch. Manzoor were also present in the meeting.

All the participants gave presentations consisting on their performance for TB control activities, searching of missing TB patients and creation of awareness among the people regarding the disease.

Dr Zarfishan Tahir stressed the need for efficient use of resources provided the government as well as Global Fund.

She advised that screening vans should be used for reaching Hard Areas for screening of new/missing TB patients.

She observed that in Urban areas all the modern diagnostic/treatment facilities are available in tertiary care and DHQ/THQ hospitals.

She said that latest Gene Expert Machines had been provided in the hospitals and the digital x-ray has already there.

Dr Zarfishan further said that as per directions of Punjab Minister Health Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, HIV tests of TB patients were being conducted and so far 80,000 of TB had been screened for HIV/AIDS.

She said that awareness among the masses was very essential to sensitize them that TB is fully curable disease and it is not a stigma.

Zubair Ahmad Shad global fund operation manager said that it was mandatary for private practitioners and clinicians to report/provide data of TB patients to the PTP, if any suspected or confirmed TB patient visit their clinic so that proper and regular treatment could be provided to the TB patient.