Eradicating TB
The World TB Day was observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world on Saturday amid some disturbing realities. This years slogan for the day was Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free World. You can make history. End TB. Despite governments overall success in tuberculosis treatment, experts at a press conference recently said that control of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) remains a major challenge as estimated 80 per cent of its patients remain undiagnosed. On the other hand, meanwhile some 21,613 new patients suffering from various types of tuberculosis including 12,819 smear positive have been detected in Rajshahi division in 2017 up by 1,820 and 1,379 respectively in comparison to 2016.
Despite achieving a remarkable success in detection and treatment of tuberculosis, it is still a major public health problem in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is still one of the 30 most vulnerable countries to this infection. According to a renowned chest specialist, there are at least five TB patients in an assembly of 100 people. That is one in every 20 people is suffering from TB. So, there is no room for expressing complacency regarding the state of TB disease in the country. TB is no respecter of persons as it may attack any person at any time irrespective of poor or rich, old or child, male or female, black or white.
There was a time when the very name of TB would create panic among people and those suffering from this dreadful disease would be treated like pariahs in the society. A TB patient in a family was the cause of extreme concern for the entire family. People would avoid the proximity of such a patient. The people have overcome those age-old superstition and ignorance greatly and have become more practical.
Taking drugs continuously in right dose for a certain period of time as advised by the physician may cure the disease. What is needed is the proper treatment after early detection of the disease. The government must put in the required efforts to stamp out tuberculosis. There is no scope to take up the issue lightly. A vigorous search programme must be launched to find the tuberculosis patients who are still not under the coverage of treatment. Massive awareness should be generated among the people so that the people suffering from the disease may undergo treatment at the state-run TB hospitals and clinics. There is no alternative to eradicating the disease for achieving the SDG.
