Speakers at a programme identified Tuesday a number of challenges in fighting Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition of the people and costly and long-term treatment procedure.
They stressed the need for integrated efforts of all stakeholders: policymakers, researchers, social workers, drug industry actors and the media for enhancing the success in controlling the menace.
They made the observations at a roundtable titled 'National TB Control Programme: Involvement of all stakeholders' at Brac Centre Inn in the city.
National TB Control Programme (NTP) under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and BRAC organised the event.
Health Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam attended the event as the chief guest while DGHS Director General Dr Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque was present as the special guest.
National Programme Consultant of NTP Dr Md Mojibur Rahman presented the keynote paper.
Syed Monjurul Islam said there are lots of achievements in the health sector and an important element behind the success is meaningful participation of all stakeholders.
'The success in controlling TB can be enhanced by further integrating policymakers, researchers, social workers, drug industry actors and the media in our concerted fight against the infection. We have to devise ways and means how to face the emerging challenges in this area,' said the secretary.
Dr Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque said, 'Malnutrition, congested and unhealthy living conditions in the city slums, increase in the number of floating people in the urban areas are the emerging challenges in fighting against TB,".
Moreover, there is spread of diabetes, tobacco habit, negligence and lack of awareness, he added. He called on BRAC to observe nutrition situation of the areas where the NTP is being implemented.
Dr Mojibur Rahman in the keynote paper highlighted MDR-TB as the main challenge at present in fight against the disease. Other challenges include tuberculosis affecting other body organs, problems in detecting child TB and increase in TB infection caused by poverty.
BRAC TB, Malaria, WASH and DECC programmes Director Dr Akramul Islam said currently NTP is passing through a transition period.
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Concerted efforts of stakeholders to control TB underscored
FE report | Published: February 18, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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