TB a major public health problem in country

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FE Report
Speakers at an advocacy workshop expressed concern that tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, as each eight persons die of tuberculosis and an estimated 300,000 people get infected with TB each year and of them about 70,000 die every year for which very effective treatment (DOT), free of cost, is available in Bangladesh.
The country ranks 6th on the list of 22 highest TB prone countries in the world. They asked the factory supervisors to report to the nearest health complex soon after identifying the symptoms or contact the health workers and take necessary treatment.
The Advocacy workshop on TB prevention was held at Oishi Fashions Ltd at Lalbagh in the city yesterday (Saturday), 20 December, 2008, with a view to making factory supervisors aware about the infectious disease. National TB Control Programme, DGHS, MoH&FW and LIFE, an NGO, jointly organised the programme.
Some 25 workers of Oishi Fashions Ltd participated in the programme held on the factory premises.
Former ambassador to the UN A H G Mohiuddin was present at the workshop as chief guest. The workshop was presided over by LIFE Executive Director Kamrul Islam Sony while CEO of Oishi Garments Akram Uddin Thakur, GM Abdul Halim, LIFE programme Director Muhammad Aamirul Islam Babu, Programme Officer Dr Juma Rahman and Shakil Rahman spoke in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, ambassador and LIFE Adviser A H G Mohiuddin said, "TB, or tuberculosis, is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of the body, but they usually attack the lungs. It is a contagious disease and it spreads from person to person through air. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected."
Appreciating the success of the joint effort of GOB and development partners in Tuberculosis Control Programme, LIFE Executive Director Kamrul Islam Sony said, "The government of Bangladesh has adopted DOT as soon as the UN placed the recommendations and launched a countrywide programme in association with NGOs. The main goals of adopting the strategy are to detect 70 per cent of new TB cases and cure at least 85 per cent of them, he said adding that one of the goals of eight UN MDGs is to reduce the mortality and prevalence rates by half by 2015 and eradicate it totally by 2050."
Addressing the supervisors, Sony urged them to keep contributing to tuberculosis control programme by disseminating their newly acquired knowledge to at least 10 persons.
Programme Director of LIFE Muhammad Aamirul Islam Babu said, "The most important way to keep from spreading TB is to take all medicine, exactly as told by the doctor, get other members of the family tested, should always cover his/her mouth with a tissue when s/he coughs, sneezes, or laughs and burn or bury it and avoid being in close contact with anyone."