WHO calls for all out efforts to contain Tuberculosis

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Pakistan Dr Guido Sabatinelli has called for all out efforts to contain the disease of tuberculosis in the country. On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day falling on Saturday, Dr Guido Sabatinelli in a statement on Friday said that due to high burden of tuberculosis and a high prevalence of drug resistant, there can be no room for complacency.
He expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the national and provincial programmes for TB control in Pakistan and assured the absolute support of the WHO in this regard. He pointed out that the WHO had supported operational research that would ascertain the correct prevalence and incidence of the disease. He added the results of the prevalence survey would be known before the end of the year.
He thanked the GFATM, USAID, DFID, JICA, UNHCR and IOM who along with a number of other national and international partners who were contributing to TB control. Giving details of WHO support to the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dr Sabatinelli mentioned that WHO carries out programme evaluations through annual joint review missions, technical support to laboratory services, human resource capacity building through regional and country level training, electronic surveillance database, procurement of equipment, MDR-TB management, emergency financial support for the procurement of drugs and operational research.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has described TB as a neglected disease which has caused much suffering and is yet to be controlled. He urged communities to benefit from the availability of TB treatment which could help prevent and finally stop TB and called for intensified global solidarity driven actions in the fight against TB. Regional Director of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Ala Alwan in a message on TB Day has appreciated the hard work of everyone involved in the fight against TB as countries have been successful in detecting more TB cases, expanding care for the MDR-TB like complex forms of the disease and progressively moving ahead towards MDG targets through innovative partnerships.
However, Dr Alwan also warned of threats faced by TB control posed by declining financing from donors like the global fund. Director of the WHO Headquarters Stop TB Department, Dr Mario Raviglione, praised global progress in TB control citing slowing death rates by 40% overall compared to 1990 and saving millions of lives.
However, he said unfortunately, to a large extent, children had been left behind, and childhood TB remained a hidden epidemic in most countries. He said it was time to act and address it everywhere. WHO National Professional Officer for TB Control, Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi highlighted the urgency of the matter and emphasized that it was an effort not only against the disease but time as well.
He said as efforts to increase the case detection rate are being accelerated. TB control can possibly by one of the Millennium Development Goals that Pakistan can hope to achieve by the targeted date of 2015, he added. He said that all the stakeholders in TB control in Pakistan will need to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis with absolute dedication and commitment in order to secure a better and hopefully TB free nation for young children.
The World TB activities this year have been themed around the slogan of "Stop TB in my lifetime" reflecting a desire on behalf of every individual to see end of this centuries old though easily preventable and treatable disease. The theme also urges action on a neglected area in TB control namely childhood TB.