Eradicating TB

The present government has done a lot for the improvement of the health sector but much more should be done

Health experts at a roundtable on “Future Strategy of Bangladesh TB. Control Programme to meet the SDG targets” in the city recently focused on taking comprehensive initiatives to make Bangladesh free from the burden of tuberculosis (TB) as the country is still reeling from the disease. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, despite achieving a remarkable success in detection and treatment of tuberculosis, the health experts said, it is still a major public health problem in Bangladesh as the number of TB notified patients stood nearly 1,80,000 in 2014. 
According to a 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 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.  
     A person from rural area suffering from TB would be scared of undergoing x-ray. He or she would think that his or her days are numbered. The people have overcome those age-old superstition and ignorance greatly and have become more practical. Nowadays a person does not feel uneasy to undergo a number of medical tests required for proper diagnosis of the disease. TB is no more a fatal disease and a person does not require rich foods, complete rest (except in some serious conditions), hospitalization or going to sanatorium by the seashore or on the hill top for curing TB. 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 present government has done a lot for improvement of the health sector but much more should be done. The relevant authorities should strengthen the TB control programme. Massive awareness should be generated among people so that 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 MDG and SDG.                                      

 

Eradicating TB

The present government has done a lot for the improvement of the health sector but much more should be done

Health experts at a roundtable on Future Strategy of Bangladesh TB. Control Programme to meet the SDG targets in the city recently focused on taking comprehensive initiatives to make Bangladesh free from the burden of tuberculosis (TB) as the country is still reeling from the disease. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, despite achieving a remarkable success in detection and treatment of tuberculosis, the health experts said, it is still a major public health problem in Bangladesh as the number of TB notified patients stood nearly 1,80,000 in 2014. According to a 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 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. A person from rural area suffering from TB would be scared of undergoing x-ray. He or she would think that his or her days are numbered. The people have overcome those age-old superstition and ignorance greatly and have become more practical. Nowadays a person does not feel uneasy to undergo a number of medical tests required for proper diagnosis of the disease. TB is no more a fatal disease and a person does not require rich foods, complete rest (except in some serious conditions), hospitalization or going to sanatorium by the seashore or on the hill top for curing TB. 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 present government has done a lot for improvement of the health sector but much more should be done. The relevant authorities should strengthen the TB control programme. Massive awareness should be generated among people so that 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 MDG and SDG.