Bangladesh 'needs to work rigorously to control TB'
Friday, 21 March 2008
FE Report
Bangladesh needs to work more rigorously to control tuberculosis (TB) as the infectious disease has staged a 'frightening' comeback, making it the country's major public health concern, experts and social activists said Thursday.
They said TB treatment facilities should also be expanded to workplaces, private hospitals and corporate sectors to bridle the disease in urban areas.
"It's a challenge to sustain our achievements in controlling TB," Pravat Chandra Barua, a director of the department of health services, told a roundtable, jointly organised by The Financial Express and the BRAC.
"We're not yet satisfied with the current TB-fighting interventions. Nearly 30 hard-to-reach areas, including coastal chars and hilly regions, are still difficult to cover," Barua said.
Bangladesh ranks sixth among 22 high-burden countries, with an estimated 70000 TB-related deaths occurring a year, while more than 300,000 being identified as new cases.
The World Health Organisation, which declared TB as a global emergency in 1993, says 50 per cent of Bangladesh's adult population is infected by TB bacilli.
Between July 2006 and June 2007, official figures say, a total of 102,785 new smear-positive cases were detected.
Moderated by deputy editor of The Financial Express Shamsul Huq Zahid, the roundtable on "TB control: social participation" was addressed, among others, by BRAC's TB control programme chief Sheepa Hafiza, health programme chief Jalal Ahmed and AKM Shamsul Huq of NIDCS.
Barua, who is also overseeing the government-run anti-TB programme, said Bangladesh is committed to preventing the further spread of TB, but warned anti-HIV/AIDS programme threatens to mar the success of combating the infectious disease.
He said the country has chosen public-private partnership as one of effective mechanisms to control TB.
In 1993, Bangladesh launched WHO-recommended Directly Observed treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy to fight TB and currently all upazilas are covered under the programme.
Officials said the case detection rates of smear-positive new cases increased to about 71 per cent in 2006 and treatment success rate hovered at 92 per cent.
He also said drugs and limited diagnostic facilities are available across the country free of charge.
Shamsul Huq said the country has still a long way to go to become a low-burden nation.
Huq, a former health official, added that the country's anti-TB programme is yet to reach the desired level, calling the situation "unfortunate."
"There's no room for complacency. We need to work more intensely to control the disease. There is a need for decentralising the monitoring and supervision system," he said.
Huq, however, was critical of the government's interventions, saying that complacency in the current success in bridling the infectious disease could lead to the situation worsen.
Sheefa Aziz called upon the private sector, pharmaceutical companies, non-government groups and social advocacy organisations to raise awareness about TB.
Shamsul Huq Zahid said although TB was once regarded as "royal disease," today it can be treated in a short-period at low costs.
He stressed on carrying out a proper study to determine whether the infection rate is higher in rural areas or urban areas.
Referring to the case of Indonesia, Jalal Ahmed said the South East Asian nation became a low-burden country, thanks mainly to the massive social awareness. "But Bangladesh still remains a high-burden country."
Mahfuza Rifat of BRAC said DOTS should be expanded to work places, private hospitals and companies.
Cultural activist Ramendu Majumdar said prevention and control of TB should be included in the curriculum and students can used for campaign.
He said if Bangladesh increases its investment in education, the country will worry little about health awareness.
Physician Ziaul Haque of Square Hospital said there must be a complete database of the TB patients to strengthen the monitoring.
He said TB is no more a disease confined only in the under-privileged segment of the society.
Shakhawat Hossain of National Anti Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) said social awareness on the prevention of TB is imperative as Bangladesh faced serious problems in the past.
He said the dense population is one of the reasons for TB contamination as the disease is highly contagious.
Noazesh Ali Khan of ATN Bangla said there should not be any complacency that tuberculosis has been eradicated to a large extent.
"We should include radio service, school students and religious leaders in the anti-tuberculosis campaign with simple and catchy communication terms to reach the large segment of the mass people," Noazesh said.
He said the general people of Bangladesh in recent time were scared to consume chicken as the campaign on bird-flu was not disseminated in easy language.
Rasna Hasan of Novartis Bangladesh said that Novartis is the world's only company which is working on tropical diseases like TB and dengue.
"We have to work in a more consolidated and concerted way to fight the scourge of TB," Rasna said.
Jalauddin Ahmed of BRAC said Indonesia recently came out from the global list of 22 high burden countries because of extensive public awareness.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh ranked 6th in that list.
Noted TV actor and communication expert Afzal Husain said there remains an urgent necessity to forge united campaign on the healthcare issues of the general mass.
"More interaction is needed among all the stakeholders to ensure health service to the commoners," Afzal added.
TD Mitra of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) said a large segment of Bangladesh population is vulnerable to TB disease as 30 million people are directly or indirectly involved with the jute industry.
"Dust and other non-hygienic elements are responsible for the vulnerability of the jute industry workers," Mitra said.
Probir Kanti Das and Sharfuddin Ahmed Sharif of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said the association is providing healthcare services to the RMG workers in Dhaka and Chittagong.
RMG worker association leader Kalpana Akhtar said the workers should possess an information manual on TB to remain aware on the preventive mechanism of the disease.
Physician Mohammadullah of Central Hospital said the number of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) centers should be increased.
Physician Shamim of National Tuberculosis Control Programme said the government-owned agency will launch a programme on TB in the BGMEA very soon.
She said the National Tuberculosis Programme aims to strengthen the effort of TB Control through effective partnership, mobilising resources and ensuring quality diagnostic and treatment services under DOTS strategy.
Hasina Begum of SMC, drama actor and communication expert Shankar Shajwal, Farhana of PANOS and physician Asif also spoke on the occasion.
Bangladesh needs to work more rigorously to control tuberculosis (TB) as the infectious disease has staged a 'frightening' comeback, making it the country's major public health concern, experts and social activists said Thursday.
They said TB treatment facilities should also be expanded to workplaces, private hospitals and corporate sectors to bridle the disease in urban areas.
"It's a challenge to sustain our achievements in controlling TB," Pravat Chandra Barua, a director of the department of health services, told a roundtable, jointly organised by The Financial Express and the BRAC.
"We're not yet satisfied with the current TB-fighting interventions. Nearly 30 hard-to-reach areas, including coastal chars and hilly regions, are still difficult to cover," Barua said.
Bangladesh ranks sixth among 22 high-burden countries, with an estimated 70000 TB-related deaths occurring a year, while more than 300,000 being identified as new cases.
The World Health Organisation, which declared TB as a global emergency in 1993, says 50 per cent of Bangladesh's adult population is infected by TB bacilli.
Between July 2006 and June 2007, official figures say, a total of 102,785 new smear-positive cases were detected.
Moderated by deputy editor of The Financial Express Shamsul Huq Zahid, the roundtable on "TB control: social participation" was addressed, among others, by BRAC's TB control programme chief Sheepa Hafiza, health programme chief Jalal Ahmed and AKM Shamsul Huq of NIDCS.
Barua, who is also overseeing the government-run anti-TB programme, said Bangladesh is committed to preventing the further spread of TB, but warned anti-HIV/AIDS programme threatens to mar the success of combating the infectious disease.
He said the country has chosen public-private partnership as one of effective mechanisms to control TB.
In 1993, Bangladesh launched WHO-recommended Directly Observed treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy to fight TB and currently all upazilas are covered under the programme.
Officials said the case detection rates of smear-positive new cases increased to about 71 per cent in 2006 and treatment success rate hovered at 92 per cent.
He also said drugs and limited diagnostic facilities are available across the country free of charge.
Shamsul Huq said the country has still a long way to go to become a low-burden nation.
Huq, a former health official, added that the country's anti-TB programme is yet to reach the desired level, calling the situation "unfortunate."
"There's no room for complacency. We need to work more intensely to control the disease. There is a need for decentralising the monitoring and supervision system," he said.
Huq, however, was critical of the government's interventions, saying that complacency in the current success in bridling the infectious disease could lead to the situation worsen.
Sheefa Aziz called upon the private sector, pharmaceutical companies, non-government groups and social advocacy organisations to raise awareness about TB.
Shamsul Huq Zahid said although TB was once regarded as "royal disease," today it can be treated in a short-period at low costs.
He stressed on carrying out a proper study to determine whether the infection rate is higher in rural areas or urban areas.
Referring to the case of Indonesia, Jalal Ahmed said the South East Asian nation became a low-burden country, thanks mainly to the massive social awareness. "But Bangladesh still remains a high-burden country."
Mahfuza Rifat of BRAC said DOTS should be expanded to work places, private hospitals and companies.
Cultural activist Ramendu Majumdar said prevention and control of TB should be included in the curriculum and students can used for campaign.
He said if Bangladesh increases its investment in education, the country will worry little about health awareness.
Physician Ziaul Haque of Square Hospital said there must be a complete database of the TB patients to strengthen the monitoring.
He said TB is no more a disease confined only in the under-privileged segment of the society.
Shakhawat Hossain of National Anti Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) said social awareness on the prevention of TB is imperative as Bangladesh faced serious problems in the past.
He said the dense population is one of the reasons for TB contamination as the disease is highly contagious.
Noazesh Ali Khan of ATN Bangla said there should not be any complacency that tuberculosis has been eradicated to a large extent.
"We should include radio service, school students and religious leaders in the anti-tuberculosis campaign with simple and catchy communication terms to reach the large segment of the mass people," Noazesh said.
He said the general people of Bangladesh in recent time were scared to consume chicken as the campaign on bird-flu was not disseminated in easy language.
Rasna Hasan of Novartis Bangladesh said that Novartis is the world's only company which is working on tropical diseases like TB and dengue.
"We have to work in a more consolidated and concerted way to fight the scourge of TB," Rasna said.
Jalauddin Ahmed of BRAC said Indonesia recently came out from the global list of 22 high burden countries because of extensive public awareness.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh ranked 6th in that list.
Noted TV actor and communication expert Afzal Husain said there remains an urgent necessity to forge united campaign on the healthcare issues of the general mass.
"More interaction is needed among all the stakeholders to ensure health service to the commoners," Afzal added.
TD Mitra of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) said a large segment of Bangladesh population is vulnerable to TB disease as 30 million people are directly or indirectly involved with the jute industry.
"Dust and other non-hygienic elements are responsible for the vulnerability of the jute industry workers," Mitra said.
Probir Kanti Das and Sharfuddin Ahmed Sharif of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said the association is providing healthcare services to the RMG workers in Dhaka and Chittagong.
RMG worker association leader Kalpana Akhtar said the workers should possess an information manual on TB to remain aware on the preventive mechanism of the disease.
Physician Mohammadullah of Central Hospital said the number of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) centers should be increased.
Physician Shamim of National Tuberculosis Control Programme said the government-owned agency will launch a programme on TB in the BGMEA very soon.
She said the National Tuberculosis Programme aims to strengthen the effort of TB Control through effective partnership, mobilising resources and ensuring quality diagnostic and treatment services under DOTS strategy.
Hasina Begum of SMC, drama actor and communication expert Shankar Shajwal, Farhana of PANOS and physician Asif also spoke on the occasion.