KHOST CITY (SW): A phenomenal 25 percent increase has been spotted in the number of Tuberculosis patients in the south eastern Khost province.
Official at the Khost Health Department said this on Thursday. Dr. Syed Mohammad Karim, head of laboratory at the Khost public hospital told Salam Watandar that more than 1600 Tuberculosis cases have been confirmed during the year 2015, a majority of which are pretty serious.
He noted that this number was around 900 in the year 2014.
According to him, a fifty percent of suspected TB cases are proving to be positive. He expressed grim concerns about it. The matter has also gripped Khost residents in fear.
Waheedullah, a Khost resident told Salam Watandar that a female in his family was treated last year but she has fallen ill to the disease once again. Like many, Waheedullah urged the government to pay serious attention and put in place a reliable solution for this disease in Khost
Dr. Mohammad Hashim Saeedi, Interim Head of Public Health in Khost, confirmed that the number of TB patients was on the rise. He expressed willingness to improve diagnosis and treatment facilities.
Saeedi mentioned that at the moment TB patients are treated free of cost at a designated center.
About the uptick in the number of patients, he said people have now realized it is not good for them to hide the disease out of shame since it is curable, and that was why more and more cases are emerging.
ENDS
