Bridge Consultants Foundation in collaboration with Stop TB Pakistan launched “TB Reach Wave 5 Project” at a Ceremony held recently at its office in Karachi. The main objective of TB REACH is to increase case detection of TB, detect the disease as early as possible, and ensure timely and complete treatment while maintaining high TB cure rates.
The Project has been launched for active TB Case finding amongst Transgenders (Hijra) and Male Sex Workers (MSWs) in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah). Prof. Masood Hameed Khan was the Chief Guest at the launching ceremony.
Sharing his view, Prof. Masood Hameed Khan said that the aim of this project is to reach communities to detect TB and provide treatment. National and Provincial TB Control Programs have devised a mechanism to TB patients and their surrounding and provide treatment facilities free of cost. TB is a communicable disease and can spread through coughing. It is a good initiative that the strategy aims to provide treatment at their doorsteps. He thanked National and Provincial TB Control Programs for providing treatment facility including medicine free of cost to all TB patients across the province. He appreciated the efforts and thanked Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah and his team for launching this project.
He announced to start a technical training program for TB patients which will be funded by an organization made by him in the name of mother and father.
Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah, Director, Bridge Consultants Foundation gave a brief over of TB Reach Wave 5 Project. The program aimed for active TB case finding and providing free of cost treatment to all TB and MDR TB patients. The existing facilities for the diagnosis, management and treatment of Tuberculosis will be greatly expanded which include sputum test on Genexpert. The focal of the project will remind the patients about regular TB Medicine. Furthermore the program will also provide free rashan to the patients facilities.
Briefing the participants about TB situation in Pakistan, he informed that About one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with Tuberculosis (TB) globally. Pakistan ranked 5th among 30 highest TB burden countries in the world which an estimated of 0.5 million new cases and 5,000 death per year. One TB patient may infect 10-12 persons in a year. TB is a curable disease, early detection and treatment can save the life of TB patients. Incomplete treatment of TB makes it most dangerous to MDR TB.
