DHAKA, March 9, 2021 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today laid special emphasize on early detection of Tuberculosis (TB) to eliminate the infection from the country and achieve the health related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
” Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that usually attacks lungs, which can also spread to other organs like the brain and spine…It is essential to detect the TB cases properly to eliminate it from the country within 2035 and achieve health related SDGs,” he said.
The minister was speaking as chief guest at a launching programme of ‘Yearlong TB awareness raising campaign in Bangladesh’ organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National TB Control Programme (NTP) and icddr,b marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“The government has been working to present a TB-free country like polio… Earlier, the TB death rate was 58 per 1, 00,000 people which is now only 24 and annually 36,000 people die of TB but the recent COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation,” he said.
“We are lucky enough that we have the leader like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Under her leadership we have controlled the deadly infection like COVID-19, till now around 40 lakhs people get vaccinated and 50 lakhs more have been registered,” the minister added.
Urging all to strictly follow the health safety guidelines and other rules, set by the government the health minister said, “Nowadays corona cases are on the slight rise as people are not following health guidelines, even they are not using face masks, social gatherings and huge crowds in tourist spots like Cox’s Bazar, Chattagram and Sylhet that led to worsen the situation ”
Aroma Dutta, MP, Director of MBDC and Line Director TB-Leprosy, ASP, Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Md Shamiul Islam, USAID representatives, executive Director of Stop TB Partnership, WHO country representatives, media personalities were also present at the programme,