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TB patients to receive medicines free of cost

By Staff Correspondent
The government is committed to combat tuberculosis on a priority basis and give medicines free of cost as it kills more people than other diseases in Bangladesh. Health and Family Welfare Minister Salauddin Yusuf said here yesterday.
He made the statement at a press conference marking the release of an evaluation report on the success of the Direct Observed Treatment. Short-course (DOTS) method of treating tuberculosis.
The report was prepared by a team comprising WHO representatives and national and international TB experts. The team visited nearly 100 TB control centres spread over six administrative divisions.
According to the report, Bangladesh is achieving the "highest documented cure rates", compared to any other country in tne world. "By using DOTS strategy, Bangladesh has been achieving a cure rate which is twice as high as those reported in many countries with far greater resources." it
said.
"The review team gives high marks to Bangladesh for implementing the five main elements of the DOTS strategy." said Dr W Hardjotanojo, WHO representative in Bangladesh.
"Political commitment, drug supplies, microscopy services, monitoring system, and the direct observation treatment were found to be functioning effectively. with a few exceptions."
He called Bangladesh "a model for the entire world" in combating tuberculosis using the DOTS device.
"Recent estimate suggests that 2.3 per cent of the population of Bangladesh becomes infected with tuberculosis every year, and about 3.00.000 people progress to develop the disease annually." the review report says adding: "Fifty per cent of these have infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, and continue to spread the disease."
Nearly 80 per cent of patients are cured in areas where DOTS is used, the report said.
The DOTS method of treatment was introduced in four thanas of the country four years ago. Presently, 363 thanas are covered by the method. Of the 363 thanas. 131 are covered by the BRAC. an NGO based in Dhaka.
When his attention was drawn to a report that half of the country's population might have been infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, Dr Ahsan Ali. Director of Micro-Bacterial Disease Control (MBDC) project said infection and the disease are not the same. "A person is not necessarily destined to develop the disease if he is infected. Human bodies have internal resistance to many bacteria. Treatment is available for both the infection and the disease."