A news report released in a local English daily on Wednesday quoted experts to have laid emphasis on more accountability, transparency and efficiency in spending public money for treatment of tuberculosis (TB) diseases at a time when its treatment now requires new attention. They laid emphasis at a discussion in the city on focusing public-private collaboration and spending targets to fight the disease. It has become more important at a time when TB as a globally number one killer disease, has become antibiotic-resistant demanding more attention in TB treatment in some areas across the globe including Bangladesh. According to WHO, though TB is curable and preventable, but it requires a carefully followed regime of medication over six months at the minimum. Anything less may lead to drug-resistant strains. One undiagnosed TB-infected person can infect 10 others a year. Therefore, it highly suggests a comprehensive treatment including prevention, care and control.
The National TB Control Programme (NTP) in Bangladesh aims at eliminating the disease to reduce the incidence to less than one new case per million population per year. It is a major public health hazard for long. In terms of tuberculosis prevalence, Bangladesh is one of ‘high burden countries’. Every year, about 14 lakh people seek care for TB infections. Estimates suggest approximately 875 new TB cases and 180 TB deaths taking place daily in the country. NTP is therefore working to reach the treatment at the doorsteps of the people at rural level.
The need is now quality diagnostic and treatment services easily available at low cost as more poor people become its victims. Bangladesh has so far received $123 million from Global Fund to fight TB since 2004, in addition to its own budgetary allocations. The focus must be to reach the benefits away from the grab of the rich.
The special matter of concern here is the drug resistant nature of TB now spreading everywhere including Bangladesh. Especially its resistance to anti-biotic drugs needs to be carefully attuned in the treatment system. TB victims suffer from various social taboos but it is curable. But they must be aware of the risks of the disease and also the chance for cure to help them overcome the challenge. We hold the view that the government and Non-government organizations must work to create the awareness while scientists must refocus their efforts at the same time to overcome the drug resistant challenge of the disease.
