TB awareness seminar Dow university

KARACHI, March 2014: Tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease. On a global scale, Pakistan has the 5th highest TB burden and is 4th highest among 27 high burden Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB cases.

Globally there are 0.5 million TB patients. TB has no boundaries, early detection and treatment can save the life of a TB patient. Incomplete treatment of TB makes it most dangerous to MDR TB.

Dow University is providing free of cost treatment to all TB and MDR TB patients reaching the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases (OICD). There is lack of awareness and education regarding TB in the country. There is a need to create mass awareness in order to reduce this ailment from our country. These views were expressed by experts speaking during a seminar at the Dow University.

The speakers included; Prof. Dr. M. Umar Farooq, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dow University, Dr. S. Ghulam Abbas Naqvi, Zonal Coordinator of Provincial TB Control Program, Dr. Ayesha Mehnaz, Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Dr. Fehmina Arif, Dr. Nazish Masood, Dr. Ismar Ara, Dr. Khalid Shafi and others. This Awareness Seminar on World TB Day was held at Arag Auditorium of Dow Medical College, Karachi. The objective of the World TB Day Seminar was to create awareness about TB amongst the masses.

The Speakers stressed to have counseling sessions for TB patients in order to minimize the burden of TB. They said that it is our responsibility to educate people about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment facilities of TB disease in Pakistan.