Desk Report: At least 260 in 1 lakh people suffer from tuberculosis in Bangladesh, according to a new government survey disclosed, reports New Age. Health minister Mohammad Nasim launched the National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey report at a function in a Dhaka hotel.
The survey of 1 lakh people, conducted jointly by the government and World Health Organisation, covered 125 zones—46 urban and 79 rural—across the country in 2015-16. The survey showed that males were more prone to TB with a prevalence rate of 452 in 1 lakh people compared to women with the rate of 143 per 1 lakh.
Elderly people have a higher prevalence rate of TB with 954 in 1 lakh people above 65.
The rate was 462 for people aged between 55 and 64 years while it was 338 for people aged between 45 and 54 years and 302 for people aged between 35 and 44. The survey showed that about 221 in 1 lakh people are infected with TB every year.
Though the government has set up a wide network of TB treatment facilities, merely 10.6 per cent TB patients seek treatment in government health centres.
The survey finds, at least 35 per cent people do not seek treatment while 51 per cent seek treatment in private facilities and 21 per cent patients at pharmacies.
Principal investigator Mahmudur Rahman said that the missing patients should be identified and the mandatory notification system should be strengthened to eliminate TB.
He said that the private sector health facilities, where 51 per cent TB patients go for treatment, were not notifying the National TB Control Programme.
State minister for health Zahid Maleque, speaking as special guest, said that the study showed about 4.5 lakh people were suffering from TB in Bangladesh.
Presiding over the function, Health Services director general Abul Kalam Azad said that there were 1,100 health centres dedicated for TB patients.
He said that there were 193 GeneXpert machines, a sophisticated tool for TB diagnosis, across the country.
Health minister Mohammad Nasim said that the government was committed to eliminate TB by 2030.
He said that the government would allocate 100 more GeneXpert machines in one year.
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