Over 4,000 people contract TB in Balkh last year

MAZAR-I-SHARFIF (Pajhwok): About 4,024 people contracted Tuberculosis (TB) and were hospitalized in northern Balkh province during the past one year, with 17 of the patients dying, an official said on Wednesday.

Abdul Bashir Kakar, head of TB control section at Public Health Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the number of people suffering TB almost doubled compared to 2023 when about 2,415 people contracted tuberculosis and 12 of them died.

He said about 1,610 people got infected to TB so far during this year.

He added there were 35 health centres for controlling and treatment of this disease in the province and up to 50 suspected TB patients visited the provincial hospital on a daily basis.

He linked the disease to anxiety, poverty and consumption of wrong food and added people with low immunity were prone to this disease.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Qayom, a TB specialist, explained coughing for more than two weeks, phlegm, fever, and sweating at night are symptoms of this disease.

He added if a patient has these symptoms, he/she undergoes treatment for up to one year at the hospital for free.

On the other hand, people suffering TB say they are satisfied with services provided in the provincial hospital.

Din Mohammad said his father was infected with TB and he brought him to the provincial hospital for treatment.

He was happy with the services provided at the hospital and said his father was being treated free of cost since eight months.

Gul Agha, 60-year-old patient, says that he visited the hospital after coughing with mucus and was now waiting for his results.

He asked the people, if they have symptoms of tuberculosis, they must visit this hospital, so other members of their families do not get infected with this disease.

kk/ma