TB-related fatalities down by 50pc in Kunar

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): The number of tuberculosis (TB) patients has significantly increased in eastern Kunar province while the fatality rate from TB reduced by 50 percent, an official said on Tuesday.

Public Health Department Spokesman Ayaz Khan Sapi told Pajhwok Afghan News that in 2022, 7,360 suspected TB patients were referred to health centres in the provincial capital and district out of which 529 cases were found positive.

This comes that in 2023, 9,339 suspected TB patients were referred to the health centres in the province in which 912 persons suffered from TB.

Although there was an increase in TB cases in 2023 due to public smooth access to health facilities and treatment there was a 50 percent decline in fatalities caused by TB, said Sapi.

He added: “Increased in the number of TB patients is not a matter of concern, due to the availability of health facilities in Kunar, it is the mercy of Allah that the death rate has decreased, only nine of the TB patients died in 2021 while the officials recorded the death of 4 TB patients in 2022.”

Sapai said the creation of TB diagnosis centre — Gen Expert — in the Asadabad Provincial Hospital, Manogai and Sawkai districts had facilitated the TB diagnoses and subsequently helped in the reduction fatalities caused by TB.

Dr. Khan Mohammad Momin, head of the Public Health Data System, said, that TB disease is a contagious disease which can be easily prevented, but if not diagnosed it could be fatal.

Neglecting the health guidelines, not using protective equipment, weak economy of some people, the lack of healthy food and immigration are the reasons that lead to the increase of TB cases among the people in Kunar, Momin explained.

He said: “To fight and eradicate TB from the community, people need to stand against this illness, improve their food regime, follow health guidelines and ensure protection.”

Patients who get free medical treatment for their TB illness are happy about the services they receive.

Shahidullah, a resident of Asadabad, suffers from TB, he said he had continuous cough and had fever since a long time, but after his examination in the hospital it was revealed that he suffered from TB. Right now he receives free treatment for his illness.

March 24 is marked TB day universally, this day is observed every year in many countries of the world, including Afghanistan, this day is designed to promote public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts are made to eliminate the disease.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2023, 80,000 cases of tuberculosis were recorded across Afghanistan, of which 76,000 were normal and 3,700 were identified acute.

Aw/nh

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