982 microscopy centres have been established across the country to provide free of cost diagnostic facility to tuberculosis patients.
According to official sources, more than 700,000 tuberculosis patients were treated free of charge while 100 percent coverage of
WHO-recommended treatment strategy for detection and cure known as Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) is achieved in the country.
They said external quality assurance for sputum microscopy was implemented in 40 districts of the country while five reference laboratories have been established included one at federal level and one each at provincial level.
They said training and health education materials have been developed and all health care providers have been trained.
Dr Sharif Astori from the Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) said TB is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. He added the disease is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. He said in healthy people, infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis often causes no symptoms, since the person’s immune system acts to ward off the bacteria.
He said the symptoms of active TB of the lung are coughing, sometimes with sputum or blood, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. He added tuberculosis is treatable with a six-month course of antibiotics.
Pakistan ranks sixth globally among 22 high tuberculosis burden countries, and contributes 43 per cent of the disease towards the Eastern-Mediterranean region of World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to the available data, the incidence of TB per 100,000 population in Pakistan is 181, case notification per 100,000 per year is 150 while the treatment success rate is 85 percent. An estimated one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with TB due to which World Health Organisation is working on its plan to cut TB prevalence rates and deaths by half by 2015.
Rose and Jasmine Garden attracts visitors with improved look: The Rose and Jasmine Garden, a popular recreational spot of the federal capital, attracts a large number of visitors on a daily basis with its improved look that includes a multi-colour variety of scented roses and other facilities.
Besides creating tracks for walking, the management of the park has installed new facilities at the children play area and planted unique varieties of colourful roses, jasmines and other flowers.
The garden’s location at the picturesque premises of Shakarparian is an attraction for nature lovers in pleasant weather while the trees also give relief to visitors in warm weather.
“I visit this park regularly. It takes away the tiredness of the daily hectic routine and freshens the mind,” said Ishtiaq Shahid, a visitor to the park.
The place is mainly an attraction for families as there are facilities for children, such as a food corner and jogging tracks while families and students’ trips also arrange picnics in the park.
“I visit this park daily for jogging,” said Bilal Naeem, a government employee.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) organises spring and autumn flower and bird shows in the park twice a year that adds more attraction for residents of twin cities.
However, visitors complain about substandard and expensive food available at the food corner in the park.
