Challenges Affecting Expansion of TB and Malaria

Islamabad

Dr. Jassim Taqui DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, 14 December, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Pakistan organizes a day-long workshop on the stakeholder consultation on the challenges affecting the expansion of Tuberculosis and Malaria responses at the provincial level.

 

The event was attended by senior officials from the Health Departments of the Government of Punjab, KP, Sindh, and Balochistan. The participants from the provincial health departments presented their findings, challenges, and recommendations specified in the context of TB and malaria. Provincial Disaster Management Authority representatives from all the provinces were also present and gave presentations on the post-flood situation in their respective provinces.

 

In Pakistan, a high burden of malarial disease has been reported in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh. Over 30% of our population lives in high-risk zones for malaria. The province of Punjab is also classified as a medium to low-risk region for malaria.

 

Unfortunately, Pakistan is ranked 5th in the world for reporting high cases of TB, with an estimated incidence of 263/per 100,000. Annually, more than 580,000 cases appear, while over 44,000 people lose their lives to the disease.

 

Multidrug-Resistant TB poses a great threat to our community with an estimated 27,000 cases reported per year.