RAJSHAHI, March 23, 2023 (BSS)- Health experts at a post-rally meeting
unequivocally called for a concerted effort to bring all the undetected
tuberculosis patients under proper treatment for building a TB free society.
 
They said TB is no longer a killer disease as early detection, proper and
timely diagnosis and treatment and preventive measures are found effective in
fighting the disease.
 
Offices of Divisional Director of Health and Civil Surgeon, Chest Disease
Hospital and Rajshahi City Corporation jointly organised the meeting at Civil
Surgeon Office premises in Rajshahi city to mark the World Tuberculosis Day-
2023 today.
 
World TB Day 2023, with the theme 'Yes! We can end TB!', aims to inspire hope
and encourage high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of
new WHO recommendations, adoption of innovations, accelerated action, and
multisectoral collaboration to combat the TB epidemic.

Different organisations like Damien Foundation, Brac, ICDDR'B, Tilottoma,
SMC, NATAB, Rick, and Ashakta Punarbashan Sangstha (APOSH) joined the anti-TB
programme displaying banners, festoons and placards.
 
Divisional Deputy Director of Health Dr Anwarul Kabir addressed the meeting
as chief guest, while Dr Bayezid Ul Islam, Medical Officer (Civil Surgeon
office), was in the chair.

Superintendent of Chest Disease Hospital Dr Mojibur Rahman, Divisional TB
Expert of National TB Control Programme Dr Saiful Islam, District
Surveillance Medical Officer Dr Abdur Rab Siddiqui and Junior Consultant of
Chest Disease Clinic Dr Chandan Kumar Pramanik spoke on the occasion.
 
In his remarks, Dr Anwarul Kabir said the existing challenges of Multi Drug
Resistance (MDR) tuberculosis should be faced collectively as its
consequences are very dangerous.
 
He urged all the government and non-government organizations concerned to
help doctors and health workers in identifying TB patients and bring them to
treatment.
 
"TB is no more a deadly disease now and it could be fully cured if the
affected patients take medicines properly for six to eight months at a
stretch as per the suggestions of the physicians", he added.
 

TB is an infectious disease that usually spreads through breathing of the
affected patients. Coughing with pain in the chest for more than three weeks
is the symptom of the disease.
 
In the event of contracting the disease, the infected persons are required to
be diagnosed immediately.
 
Dr Saiful Islam told the meeting that free treatment facilities are available
at all the upazila health complexes, district hospitals, public and private
medical colleges and other health centres in the country.

Around thirty percent of old patients turned into MDR-TB patients in
Bangladesh. The scope of treatment for MDR-TB patients is limited compared to
its number in the country.
 
Dr Mojibur Rahman said the healthcare providers can help prevent MDR TB by
quickly diagnosing cases, following recommended treatment guidelines,
monitoring patients' response to treatment, and making sure therapy is
completed.
 
Another way to prevent getting MDR TB is to avoid exposure to known MDR TB
patients in closed or crowded places such as hospitals, prisons, or homeless
shelters, he added.