To mark the World TB Day 2011, Pakistan Lions Youth Council (PLYC) in collaboration with National TB Control Program Islamabad, (NTP); Provincial TB Control Program Punjab (PTP) and Nishtar Medical Collage organized a Seminar on “Tuberculosis” on March 22, 2011 at Nishtar Auditorium Multan.
The Seminar was mainly focused at raising awareness about the burden of TB disease in the country, its prevention and control and the efforts at Provincial and National levels. Representatives from NTP/PTP, Civil Society members, Doctors; Paramedics, Store Keepers, TB affected Communities and other involved in fight against TB attended the Seminar.
Dr. Ijaz Qadeer, National Manager Pakistan TB Control Program speaking as a chief guest on the occasion said that Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health challenge in Pakistan. The World TB Day is actually meant to inculcate in the masses, patient and their families member to tackle the disease. The World TB Day is not restricted to doctors, nurses and paramedics. There are lots of people identifies as premedical people. They are inculcated to give their decision which is extremely important. He appreciated the efforts of PLYC for the fight against tuberculosis. He also assured the NTP will soon start MDR treatment service in Nishtar Medical College.
Dr. Laiq Hussain Siddique, Principle Nishter Medical College in his remarks said that this year theme reflects renewed momentum to approach the global problem of tuberculosis with greater intensity and seriousness of purpose. This growing interest is broad-based, emerging from leaders in public health to laboratory scientists, from physicians to activists.
Dr. Darakhshan Badar Provincial Manager Punjab TB Control Program in her remarks said that Tuberculosis is still an epidemic in many regions of the world, annihilating the lives of many millions of people each year. Each year, over nine million people around the world get infected with TB and almost two million TB related deaths are recorded worldwide.
She explained that the objective of World TB Day is Research, aimed at developing new diagnostics, drugs or vaccines; Operational research, aimed at making TB care more effective and efficient; New approaches to helping people gain access to TB diagnosis and treatment; Novel partnerships between actors in the fight against TB; Advances in integrating TB care into health systems; New approaches to providing support from members of the community to people affected by TB.
Prof. Dr Zubair Shaheen, Head of Department of Pulmonologist, Nishtar Medical Collage Multan in his remarks explained the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis and requested NTP to make the MDR treatment available in Nishtar Medical Collage.
Dr. Qaiser Javed, Vice Chair CCM Pakistan said that the goal of TB elimination can be achieved by working together and strengthening partnerships. This country’s progress in controlling TB will only be sustainable if local, state, national, and international partners from all sectors of our society join resources and collaborate together. United effort is needed to reach those at highest risk for TB and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve testing and treatment among high-risk populations. He also explained the Role of CCM in pooling resources and in the fight against TB.
Kinz-ul-Eman said that PLYC is working to elevate the root cause of many of the socio economic problems. PLYC is working against tuberculosis in 35 districts of Punjab and intend to work not only on TB but soon will launch the work on MDR and XDR TB which is the most alarming forms of TB. She said that PLYC with the help of NTP and PTP empowering and enabling the private sector to provide free of cost treatment of tuberculosis.
The Seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Shazia Rana, Chairperson PLYC and Shields distributions.