The rate of tuberculosis is declining in Karnali

The rate of tuberculosis has been declining in Karnali. The Public Health Service Office Surkhet has made the data public through a press conference.

According to the data presented by Padma Bahadur KC, Tuberculosis / Leprosy Superintendent of the Directorate of Health Services, one thousand 632 in the fiscal year 2074/75, one thousand 374 in 2075/76, one thousand 236 in 2076/77, one thousand 193 in 2077/78 and one thousand 193 in the current fiscal year 2078/79. In six months, 739 TB patients have been found. Official KC said that in the first six months of the current fiscal year, the lowest number of TB patients was found in Humla with four and the highest number of 281 in Surkhet.

Similarly, 18 Tuberculosis patients were found in Mugu, 29 in Dolpa, 41 in Kalikot, 43 in Jumla, 55 in Jajarkot, 79 in Dailekh, 80 in Rukumpashchim, and 109 in Salyan. Dr. Rabin Khadka, Acting Director, Health Services Directorate, Karnali Pradesh, said that many 'cases' could not be detected in the data released on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, 2022.

"Every year, 17,000 more people die of tuberculosis in Nepal than Kovid," said Dr. Khadka. "It requires the joint efforts and support of all." Therefore, the slogan of 'World Tuberculosis Day, 2022' is 'Increase investment to end tuberculosis, save lives, he said.

He said that tuberculosis can affect all parts of the body except hair and nails and urged all to be aware of it. According to Director Dr. Khadka, even though there are specialized doctors in the pre-federal district to treat tuberculosis, it has not been properly managed at the municipal level.

Senior Public Health Administrator of the Ministry of Social Development, Brish Bahadur Shahi, said that work has been done in the field of tuberculosis for six decades. "In the meantime, we have eradicated polio and malaria," he said. At that time, INF Nepal was contributing in the field of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, said Senior Public Health Administrator Shahi. In the program, it has been stated that there is a rate of TB testing in the Gene Expert Center and the Expert Gene Generation Centers are yet to be expanded in Humla and Dolpa districts of the Himalayas. Due to the high cost of the machine, it could not be extended to all the districts of Karnali, said the Directorate of Health Services.