Early diagnosis, timely treatment of TB stressed

RANGPUR, May 25 (BSS): Experts at a views-exchange meeting called on Thursday for ensuring early diagnosis and on-time treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients to eliminate the curable disease from the country.
They viewed this at the event organised by National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB), Rangpur on 'Role of Conscious Society in Enhancing Social Awareness for Controlling Tuberculosis' at a city hotel.
President of Rangpur unit of NATAB Shah Md. Nabiullah Panna presided over the meeting participated by teachers, politicians, traders, NGO representatives, sociocultural and women activists and local journalists.
Deputy Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr Md. Ruhul Amin attended the event as the chief guest while senior journalist Md. Mamun Islam spoke as a special guest.
Programme Organiser of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) at Rangpur Civil Surgeon's Office Rumana Akhter and Rangpur Divisional Organiser of NATAB Md. Kawser Uddin took part in the event as the main discussants.
Kawser Uddin discussed the government strategies for eradicating tuberculosis and successes achieved so far towards the directions at the district, regional and national level. Rumana Akhter highlighted the government efforts for detecting TB patients and bringing them under cost-free Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) Therapy programme at village, ward, union, upazila and district levels.
She discussed multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), Smear Negative, Extra Pulmonary TB and functioning of computerized GeneXpert Machines available at four health service providing facilities in Rangpur for diagnosing MDR-TB.
"The full-fledged GeneXpert Laboratory at Tazhat Chest Disease Hospital in Rangpur, equipped with an ultra-modern GeneXpert machine, computers and other inputs is assisting doctors to efficiently diagnose MDR-TB and tuberculosis," she said.
The participants expressed commitments to motivate people and create social awareness about the reasons behind tuberculosis infection and its available cost-free treatment facilities everywhere.
The chief guest stressed the need for conducting quick cough tests of tuberculosis patients, taking preventive vaccines and ensuring full course intake of essential medicines without interruption, for eradicating the curable disease of tuberculosis from the country. He urged the participants to play due roles in inspiring people to identify tuberculosis patients for bringing them under cost- free DOTS Therapy to free the nation from the curable disease.