March 24, 2000, Friday
SECTION: WORLD NEWS; SCIENCE, CULTURAL, EDUCATION, HEALTH
HEADLINE: Musharraf Urges Nation to Help in Eliminating TB
DATELINE: ISLAMABAD, March 24
Pakistan's Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has urged the nation to help the
government and health workers in eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
"In Pakistan alone, an estimated 300,000 new cases of Tuberculosis occur every
year, and most of these cases affect adults in the productive age group," he said in
his message on the occasion of the World TB Day on March 24.
Although the government is doing its utmost to provide free diagnosis and full
treatment to all the citizens for the control of this major public health problem, he
said, "We can only succeed if people join hands with us in ensuring that a proper
diagnosis is made and full treatment is taken."
TB is not only curable but its treatment is also affordable and available from all the
designated government hospitals,he added.
The government is promoting the Directly Observed Treatment short-course in which a
health worker or a family member ensures that the proper medicines are taken for the
required period, he said, stressing that public cooperation in this venture is highly
needed.
"If we have the will and capacity, we shall be able to eliminate this menace in a
short span of time," General Pervez Musharraf said."Let the World TB Day, 2000,
be a milestone in our fight against the Tuberculosis."