WORLD T.B DAY

Dr. Arata Kochi, Director Global T.B programme in a recent communication said that one of the most difficult hurdles we face today in combating the spreading global epidemic of tuberculosis is silence. Despite the reassurance of TB throughout the world is a scourge that receives far less attention than many threats to life that are far less widespread or virulent. Too many people remain largely unaware T.B is both readily contracted and easily cured and are thus at risk. Tuberculosis remains the world’s most frustrating killer. It thrives on ignorance and complacency. We are at with a terrible enemy. Year after year it kills some three million people around the world even though effective treatments are known and the cost of applying then is relatively low. TB is the leading infectious killer of adults, the leading killer of AIDS victims and the leading infectious killer of women causing more female deaths than all other causes of maternal mortality combined if current trends continue at least 30 million people will die of T.B over the next 10 years.

Even developed countries that thought Tuberculosis was vanquished are facing a reassurance of the disease, often in a deadly new and virtually incurable form ie. Multi-drug resistant disease (MDR).

There are probably more TB cases in the world today than have ever been before.

The majority of TB cases 90% untreated and those that are treated are often treated inadequately, making the disease worse not better. No wonder the disease, which is communicated through droplets Sneezed or Coughed into the air, continue to spread. Poor treatment can be worse than no treatment, because it fosters the development of drug resistant strains of tuberculosis.

The cure for this disease is known. Medicines taken under the watchful eyes of health personnel, a form of therapy known as directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) can cure nearly all T.B victims. This years theme for world T.B day is “Use DOTS more widely”.

Both World Bank and the World Health Organization have boosted their budget for fighting tuberculosis. Yet some bow the right combination of money, drug and properly run programmes remains elusive especially in Pakistan.