Sunday March 26, 2017
Kabul (BNA) Despites the development of health service in the last more than 16 years in the country, over 12,000 people loss lives to the fatal disease each year in Afghanistan.
The disease is nearly controlled in high extent, with many healthcare centers in many big cities of the country, but it still remained dangerous to many people with no access to healthcare centers, as estimated in the last many years. The ministry of public health has announced that some 60,000 people are each year affected by Tuberculosis, but estimates suggested that the disease has been reduced to 42,812 cases, making 62 percent of all disease cases in the country, with 58 percent women and 42 percent men. “1937 TB treatment centers have been established in the country,” Dr. Najibullah Safi, head of public health ministry’s preventive medicine told media.
Afghanistan is among 22 world countries with more TB cases affecting women more than men, said Safi who expressed hope, “Fortunately, by increase in the number of treatment centers in many parts of the country we could reduce the case.” He added that last week a contract costing 8 million USD was signed between Afghanistan and Japan, which is expected to be spent in purchasing TB medications for 2018, 2019 and 2020, as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. Those affected with TB should refer to the certain treatment centers timely in their near provinces, said a health expert, Dr. Azizullah who regretted for wide number of people with economic problem and their failure to access to the central provinces, due to prevailing insecurities. The main reason behind increase in the number of TB affected women that they spouses were not ready to take them to the treatment centers, particularly those living in the remote provinces. “I recovered after referring to a TB treatment center and hospitalization in Kabul from Maidan/Wardak,” Shogufa who recently released from hospital told The Kabul Times. He asked the government to provide ground for the TB affected patients to be treated soon. March 24 coinciding World TB day marked each year worldwide including Afghanistan.
Shukria Kohistani
