Sindh Health Minister stresses on eradication of TB

The Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, has stated that the time has come to eradicate tuberculosis from Sindh. She claimed that the Sindh government had taken many steps to fight against TB. This she said while addressing a seminar commemorating World TB day at a local hotel where she was the chief guest.

The seminar was organized as a conjoined effort by the Stop TB Partnership Pakistan, Mercy Corps, and BRIDGE Consultants to address an important area of “preparing fresh medical graduates to contribute towards ending TB in Pakistan.“

The welcome speech was given by the Vice Chairman of Stop TB, Dr Sharaf Ali Shah. An overview & situational analysis was presented by the Stop TB senior consultant, Dr Syed Karam Shah.

The Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho reiterated the importance of developing a multi-sectoral responsibility framework to end TB in line with the agreement signed by the member states at United Nations General Assembly High-Level TB Meeting held on 26th September 2018.

Pechuho added that the core issue of TB needs to be addressed through a multi-pronged approach through the use of a bio-social model. She informed that the healthcare system must be devolved at the district level to achieve an integrated health care system. A technical committee has been formed to address the communicable diseases in Sindh comprising of specialists and ID consultants. The End TB initiative will be integrated at the district level, with the support of the civil administration, line departments and partners.

She thanked all the partners and academicians from various universities as the ceremony concluded. She requested the Vice Chancellors to join hands with the health department & civil society organizations such as Stop TB to actively participate in curbing the nuisance that is TB.

Director TB Control, Sindh, AKUH professors, Mercy Corps Program Manager, VC, LUMHS, representatives of STOP TB, and officials from the public sector were also present at the occasion.