RAJSHAHI, Nov 18, 2020 (BSS)- Campaigners and development activists here sought all-out cooperation of the community people to make the society free from the curse of tuberculosis.
They unanimously observed that the role of mass-media is very important for creating massive awareness as it has become an urgent need for substantial reduction of tuberculosis prevalence.
They came up with the observation while addressing a district level view-sharing meeting with people from various professions and other stake holders at SK Food Restaurant in Rajshahi city today.
The National Anti Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB) organized the meeting aimed at sensitizing the community people on how they can contribute a lot towards freeing the society from further tuberculosis infection.
Chaired by NATAB district unit President Advocate Golam Rabbani, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Civil Surgeon Dr Enamul Haque, Medical Officer of TB Clinic Dr Khadiza Khatun and NATAB district unit General Secretary Advocate Shahinul Haque.
Dr Enamul Haque mentioned that TB is no more a killer disease as early detection, proper and timely diagnosis and treatment and preventive measures are now available to combat the disease.
This is the high time of creating awareness among the public to face the existing challenges of Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) as its consequences are very dangerous, he added.
Dr Haque told the meeting that TB is an infectious disease that usually spreads out through breathing of the affected patients.
He termed the co-infection of TB and HIV as severe to any human body and laid stress on a comprehensive working force along with capacity development plan to deal with TB-HIV co-infection. Apart from this, TB is more dangerous and harmful compared to Covid-19.
He, however, said the government is determined to achieve success in TB control through implementing the Directly Observed Treatment strategy and with enormous efforts of all the stakeholders including the NGOs, as TB diagnostic and treatment services are now available throughout the country.
In her remarks, Dr Khadiza Khatun said monitoring of the implementation status and achievements in TB control play a vital role in programme planning and advocacy and help in achieving the success in prevention and control of TB in a better way.
She added that collective efforts of all the authorities and individuals concerned can be the effective means of reducing morbidity, mortality and transmission of tuberculosis