Bangladesh aims to end TB before 2030

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday hoped that Bangladesh can bring Tuberculosis (TB) under control before 2030. 

“Bangladesh is providing free treatment for TB. The good news is that TB drugs are being manufactured in Bangladesh and 95% of TB patients recover completely,” Maleque said at an event organized by the National Tuberculosis Control Program of the Department of Health and USAID's  Alliance for Combating TB in Bangladesh (ACTB) program icddr,b.

“As we have succeeded in controlling Covid-19, we hope that if we all work together, we can control TB in Bangladesh before 2030," the minister added.

“More than 40,000 people are dying of TB in Bangladesh every year. In 2002, the number was 75,000. Every year, 300,000 new people are infected with tuberculosis,” he said.

The minister also said:  "Awareness should be raised to control tuberculosis. Superstitions should be removed from society so that people do not stop taking treatment for the fear of isolation. As well as all the MPs should visit their respective districts, upazila health complexes, and hospitals more and more to control TB. In this way, if there is any problem with other treatments including tuberculosis, that matter can be taken under consideration quickly."

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

He said: "Bangladesh has been able to control infectious diseases well. Communicable diseases are under control but non-communicable diseases are on the rise. Such as cancer, kidney, and heart problems. We are also working on this. Health care in Bangladesh is progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

“Through community clinics, we have been able to deliver health services to people. Every district-upazila hospital has been modernized, and the number of beds has been doubled. We have about 37 medical colleges and 15 institutes. We are working with 5 medical and universities. Some 8 more hospitals are being built at a cost of Tk3,000 crores. Burn units will be made in 7 departments, like the Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute. Bangladesh has been able to control infectious diseases well.”

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Health Services Division Secretary Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howlader said: "To control TB, every person should be scanned. If we can detect it correctly, it is possible to make Bangladesh free from TB."

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, said: "I myself have treated around 500 children with tuberculosis. Several of them have died during treatment. Much is being done to control tuberculosis, but much more remains to be done. We are offering two fellowships to postgraduate students for research on TB. They are doing well in research."

DGHS Director (MBDC) Prof Dr Kazi Shafiqul Halim said: "Tuberculosis is an airborne disease. If there is a family member with this disease, there is a possibility of spreading it among the other members of that family. Therefore, if you see any symptoms of tuberculosis, you should consult a doctor immediately."

At this time, the MPs who were presented described the TB situation in their areas. Urging awareness to everyone, they are requesting to Health Minister for a platform in Parliament to work together to control TB.

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

At the beginning of the program, TB survivor Bohanuddin and his 11-year-old son Rumayad Hossain shared their journey.  After that Gambhira and Puppet Show presented on Tuberculosis causes symptoms, treatment and awareness. 

At that time, the line director of TB-L & ASP of DGHS, Dr Md Mahafuzer Rahman Sarkar, presented a keynote on NTP. He said TB deaths have come down from 45 deaths per 100,000 in 2015 to 25 in 2021.

He described the major shift in TB treatment in Bangladesh from long-duration painful injectable regimens to newer, shorter, oral, drug-resistant TB regimens.