KABUL (SW) – Officials from the Ministry of Public Health stated on Monday that approximately 75,000 people contract tuberculosis (TB) annually in Afghanistan, and of these, 10,000 lose their lives to the disease.
Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister for Health Services at the ministry, said that controlling TB is beyond the capacity of the ministry, and they require cooperation from international organizations.
“According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, 180 out of every 100,000 people are infected with tuberculosis. Based on Afghanistan’s population, this translates to around 75,000 people. It is estimated that 10,000 people die annually in Afghanistan from TB, and controlling this disease is beyond the ministry’s capabilities. International organizations need to help Afghanistan’s health sector in preventing it,” he said.
The WHO officials in Afghanistan stated that the incidence of tuberculosis in the country increased by 3.3% in the past year.
Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s representative in Afghanistan, said: “In the past year, over 50,000 TB cases were reported in Afghanistan, compared to more than 49,000 cases the previous year. This marks a 3.3% increase in tuberculosis cases, and we are striving to combat it.”
Additionally, officials from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Afghanistan, attending the event in Kabul to mark World Tuberculosis Day, stressed the importance of eradicating tuberculosis in the country.
Stephen Rodriques, UNDP’s Country Director in Afghanistan, said: “With commitment, investment, and the implementation of programs, we can end tuberculosis in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, Ali Mohammad Amin, Head of TB Control at the Ministry of Public Health, mentioned that tuberculosis is a contagious disease, and long-lasting cough, fever, and night sweats are some of its symptoms.
He urged citizens to visit health centers in a timely manner to prevent contracting the disease. “Tuberculosis is one of the most serious diseases in the country, affecting thousands of families. This center is taking serious measures to prevent this disease, and we urge people to consult a doctor after a week of persistent coughing,” he said.
March 24 is designated as World Tuberculosis Day by the World Health Organization to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of TB.
