Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque states, “80 per cent of the TB infected patients can be detected and the rest remain undetected”, at a programme observing World TB Day 2023 at the capital’s Hotel Sheraton on Wednesday.
Although Bangladesh has gradually progressed in combating Tuberculosis infection across the country, the minister said, “70 per cent of the world's TB patients live in only eight to ten countries of the world. And Bangladesh is one of them. However, statistics are giving some hope as the annual deaths went from 75,000 in 2002 down to 40,000 at present. However, for us every death matters”.
Line Director (TB-L and ASP) of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr Mahafuzer Rahman Sarker talked about the DGHS’s success in controlling TB infection and providing treatment stating that, in 2015 about 45 among 1 lac people died while it is 25 per lac in 2021 still We are considered as one of the high-risk countries for tuberculosis around the world, where one person is detected with tuberculosis every minute, according to a press release.
The treatment of TB took a major shift after introducing completely oral short-term drug-resistant regimens from the burdensome long-term injectable treatment regimens, according to the Line Director.
“To achieve the national target for eradicating TB from Bangladesh by 2035, it is imperative to ensure preventive activities, TB detection for possible patients, notification, easy access to the services and finally the political commitment and participation from every aspect”, said Dr Mahafuzer.
The minister said that currently, the government is providing all sorts of treatment facilities free of cost. He sought support from all including INGOs and NGOs to work together as the government cannot control this disease alone. He urged everyone to come forward so that TB can be eliminated from the country by the year 2030.
Secretary of Health Service Division under the ministry Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader, ADG of DGHS Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir, Executive Director of ICDDRB, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Infectious Disease Team Lead of USAID Bangladesh, Samina Choudhury were present as the special guest along with DGHS Director (MBDC) Dr Kazi Shafiqul Halim were present in the program.
