Commemoration Of World TB Day 2022

 WORLD TB DAY BULLETIN 2022

WORLD TB DAY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease that is a major cause of illness and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Until the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing HIV/AIDS.

TB is still one of the most deadly infectious diseases on the planet. Every day, more than 4100 people die from tuberculosis (TB), and almost 28,000 people get this treatable and avoidable disease. Since 2000, Efforts to eliminate tuberculosis have reportedly saved the lives of 66 million people worldwide. On the other side, the COVID-19 epidemic has interrupted years of progress in the fight against tuberculosis. For the first time in almost a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020.

In Pakistan, the National TB Control Program, in collaboration with the provincial TB control program aims to achieve a TB-free Pakistan by 2025, when compared to 2012, by providing universal access to high-quality TB care and achieving zero TB deaths. Pakistan is the world's fifth-highest burden-bearing country.

Pakistan, like the rest of the world, has been struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020, which has put the worldwide healthcare system into chaos. This pandemic has not only shattered current healthcare systems but has also effectively shattered the progress made by certain medical institutions by discouraging them from their goals of eradicating specific diseases and conditions.

Infectious disorders such as HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria have been made more difficult to diagnose thanks to Covid-19. Tuberculosis (TB) is one of Pakistan's most critical public health problems. It accounts for nearly one-third of all tuberculosis cases worldwide. While hospitals focused on Covid-care, the epidemic disrupted care and disease diagnostics. Pakistan has established a target of eradicating the disease by 2030.

World TB Day 

WORLD TB DAY (WTD)

Every year on March 24, we observe World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of TB and to increase efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The day celebrates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch revealed the discovery of the tuberculosis-causing bacteria, paving the door for tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.

World TB Day 

THEME OF WORLD TB DAY 2022

'Invest to End TB,' 'Invest to End TB. Save Lives is the theme for World Tuberculosis Day 2022, which conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve global leaders' commitments to end TB. This is particularly crucial in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has compromised End TB progress, as well as to provide equal access to prevention and care in keeping with WHO's goal of Universal Health Coverage. Ongoing COVID-19 efforts, as well as a $ 9 billion funding gap, threaten to stymie global progress in combating tuberculosis. This is why the World Tuberculosis Day campaign theme "Invest to End TB, Save lives ", was chosen.

As we approach the UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB targets, which the international community promised to meet by the end of December, this year is essential for everyone participating in the worldwide campaign to end tuberculosis (TB).

Millions of lives will be saved as a result of increased investment, hastening the end of the tuberculosis epidemic.

World TB Day

COMMEMORATION OF WORLD TB DAY 2022

Provincial TB Control Program (PTP) in collaboration with different implementing partners and district health authorities commemorated World TB Day 2022 activities all over Punjab. Here is the pictorial demonstration of Different activities being conducted all over Punjab in connection with World TB Day -2022.

 

1.          AWARENESS SEMINARS

The Awareness seminars were conducted in 30 Districts of Punjab for the commemoration of World TB Day 2022 by the Provincial TB Control Program in collaboration with different development Partners and District Health Authorities. The PPOs and respective District TB Coordinators of the District supervised these community-based interventions. These events were attended by different community stakeholders from different community cadres including Medical Students, Civil society members, Nurses, Doctors, TB patients, and Paramedics along with Media representatives. District TB Coordinators of the respective districts while addressing the events put the spotlight on TB under the world TB Day 2022 theme - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ to convey the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially critical in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has compromised End TB progress, as well as to ensure fair access to prevention and treatment by the WHO's Universal Health Coverage target.

District Health Authorities of the respective district also participated in these events and raised public mindfulness of the disease's terrible health, social, and economic effects, as well as intensified efforts to combat the global TB epidemic.

WTD- 2022 Activities	Number of Units	Districts Name
AWARENESS SEMINARS	30	Khanewal, Vehari, Bhakkar,Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Chaniot,DG Khan,Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala,Gujrat,Jhang,Jhelum,Kasur,Khushab,Lahore, Layyah,MB-DIN,Mianwali, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Nankana, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan,Rawalpindi, Sahiwal,Sargodha,TT Singh

WTD- 2022 Activities

Number of Units

         Districts Name

AWARENESS SEMINARS

30

Khanewal, Vehari, Bhakkar,Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Chaniot,DG Khan,Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala,Gujrat,Jhang,Jhelum,Kasur,Khushab,Lahore, Layyah,MB-DIN,Mianwali, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Nankana, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan,Rawalpindi, Sahiwal,Sargodha,TT Singh

2.          AWARENESS WALKS

Health workers, community leaders, Civil Society Members & doctors participating in the TB walk on the occasion of World TB Day 2022 organized by the Provincial TB Control Program Punjab in collaboration with development partners and district health authorities in 25 Districts of Punjab. Every year on March 24, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise public awareness of the disease's devastating health, social, and economic consequences, as well as combat the Global TB Epidemic through enhanced efforts. The day commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, paving the path for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

This year's World TB DAY 2022 theme is "Invest to End TB Save Lives," which emphasizes the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and satisfy global leaders' commitments to eradicate the disease. This is especially crucial in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has compromised End TB progress, as well as to provide equitable access to prevention and treatment in line with WHO's goal of Universal Health Coverage.

WTD- 2022 Activities	Number of Units	Districts Name
AWARENESS WALK	25	Khanewal, Vehari, Bhakkar,Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Chaniot, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Lahore Gujranwala,Gujrat,Jhang,Jhelum,Kasur,Khushab, Mianwali, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Nankana, Okara, Pakpattan, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal,Sargodha,TT Singh

World TB Day 

3. DRUG-RESISTANT TB CLINICS INAUGURATION:

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR TB) spreads similarly to drug-susceptible tuberculosis.DR-TB is a key driver of the TB epidemic in Pakistan and one of the reasons that TB remains a major public health threat. Increased resistance to TB drugs particularly affects eastern European and central Asian countries including Pakistan. MDR-TB is resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin, two of the most effective anti-TB medications. Its therapy is not only more costly, but it also takes a lengthy time.

One of the primary deliverables of PTP Punjab's Provincial Strategic Plan 2020-23 is the decentralization of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Clinics, which would improve the detection and diagnosis of DR TB at the district level. This will reduce patient travel while also increasing the convenience of receiving high-quality health care services right in their own neighborhood. In honor of World TB Day 2022, the Provincial TB Control Program also opened two Decentralized DR TB Clinics in the districts of Khanewal and Vehari. This is one of PTP's significant accomplishments regarding World TB Day 2022.

WTD-2022 Activities	Number of Units	Districts Name
Decentralized DR-TB Clinics Inaugurated	02	Khanewal, Vehari

DR TB DECENTRALIZATION

4- PROVINCIAL HEAD QUARTER GRAND SEMINARS

At the Provincial Head Quarter level, the Provincial TB Control Program in collaboration with different partners successfully conducted Grand seminars. The aim of these seminars is to connect with all the people who work on, or are affected by TB: researchers; people in surveillance, control, and policy; those in diagnostics and patient care; and affected patients and communities to raise public mindfulness of the disease's terrible health, social, and economic effects, as well as to intensify efforts to combat the global TB epidemic.

Following Activities were conducted by PTP Punjab at Provincial Level.

A.    GOVERNOR HOUSE LAHORE- PUBLIC HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

On March 24, 2022, the Provincial TB Control Program Punjab, in partnership with the Infection Prevention and Control Foundation and other partners, held a Grand Level Public Health Symposium at Governor House.  This was a mega event and various dignitaries including Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jahangir Khan, Federal Joint Secretary, and national Coordinator Common Management Unit Mr. Bashir Khetran along with representatives from the National TB Control Program, different hospitals, and implementing partners also participated in the Grand event.  The panel discussion was also conducted with the experts at the event. The panel discussion's goal is to inspire discussion among a group of professionals from PTP, WHO, and partners so that the audience can learn from their discourse and interaction. While addressing the event, Dr. Sarmad Wahaj Siddique, Program Manager Provincial TB Control Program presented the services and road map of the PTP Punjab in line with the theme of World TB Day 2022, INVEST TO END TB, SAVE LIVES.  The event's primary guest, Mrs. Ghulam Sarwer (Governor of Punjab), praised the Provincial TB Control Program's work and presented shields to deserving personalities.

World TB Day 

G.C UNIVERSITY LAHORE- GRAND SEMINAR

A Grand Awareness Seminar was conducted by the Provincial TB Control Program Punjab in collaboration with WHO at Government College University, Lahore on the 21st of March 2022. Dr. Haroon Jahangir khan Director General Health Services Punjab graces the event as chief guest. While other dignitaries include Prof. Asghar Zaidi Vice Chancellor GCU, Dr. Khawaja Laeeq NPO WHO, Dr. Sarmad Wahaj Program Manager PTP Punjab, and Dr. Asif Muhammad Project Manager PTP Punjab, and Dr. Aamir Chaudhary TB Consultant Punjab WHO also participated in the event.

World TB Day 

 

ILLUMINATION OF WAPDA HOUSE 

On World TB Day-2022, Provincial TB Control Program in collaboration with DOPASI Foundation and Stop TB illuminated the Iconic WAPDA House Lahore to create awareness of TB disease and brings the attention of the world to the theme of the World TB Day 2022- Invest to end TB, Save Lives. Commissioner Lahore Capt (R) Muhammad Usman Younis graced the event as Chief Guest to put the spotlight on TB under the world TB Day 2022 theme - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ to convey the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially important in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has jeopardized End TB progress, as well as to provide equal access to prevention and treatment in line with WHO's goal of Universal Health Coverage.

World TB Day 

AVARI LAHORE- TB AWARENESS SEMINAR

Provincial TB Control Program in collaboration with Mercy Corps Pakistan conducted a grand event of World TB Day-2022 on the 29th of March 2022 at AVARI Lahore where more than 100 participants attended the event. Dr. Haroon Jahangir Khan Director of General Health Services while addressing the event said that Pakistan ranks fifth among the thirty High TB Burden countries in the world contributing 61% of the EMRO region caseload and Punjab being the most populous province contributes 63% of the National TB caseload. Through the Provincial TB Control Program, the Government of Punjab is striving to achieve the targets set in the End TB Strategy with a determined multi-sectoral engagement. The TB service delivery is integrated with the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab to ensure diagnosis and treatment nearest to patients’ homes. He added that this is high time to invest not only financial resources but also our energies to tackle this deadly disease and to contribute to National END TB Strategy.

World TB Day

DG KHAN MEDICAL COLLEGE- SEMINAR

A fabulous seminar was conducted by the Provincial TB Control Program Punjab in DG Khan Medical College to commemorate World Tb Day 2022 on the 28th of March 2022. Medical students, medical teaching faculty, nurses, and paramedical staff attended the conference.

Dr. Muhamamd Asif, Project Manager PTP in his address spoke on the importance of World TB Day, causes of TB, Management (DOTS), and prevention of TB. He emphasized that the current scenario indicates that there is an urgent need to view and deal with tuberculosis not as a medical or even public health problem alone but as a social problem where innovative interventions have to be taken seriously or its effective control.

 Dr. Usman Lodhi, Provincial Coordinator DR TB while speaking to participants sensitized the participants about the Drug-resistant Tuberculosis facilities available in Punjab. He also added that PTP Punjab is soon going to launch a Decentralized DR-TB clinic in DG Khan district as well so that DG Khan patients can avail the treatment services about DR-TB at their district level.

Commissioner DG Khan Division, Mr. Liaqat Ali Chatha, has pledged district assistance for the launch of DRTB Decentralized services in DG Khan.

                                                                      World TB Day

ENHANCING TB CONTROL BRAND AWARENESS

Every year on March 24, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to raise public awareness of the disease's devastating health, social, and economic consequences, as well as to step up efforts to combat the global TB epidemic. In-Line with the theme of World TB DAY 2022 which is 'Invest to End TB Save Lives'- passes the earnest need to invest resources to ratchet up the battle against TB and meet global leaders' commitments to end TB.
Increasing the brand awareness of TB Control Program services is very important because it creates a positive ripple effect for the general community. Provincial TB Control Program increases the brand awareness of TB Control program through different text, audio & visual messages from the prominent national figures at the mass level to enhance public awareness about the signs and symptoms of Tuberculosis coupled with the diagnosis and treatment services available at the National, Provincial as well as district and tehsil level. 

DG HEALTH PUNJAB 

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM DIGNITARIES

HEALTH MINISTER PUNJAB

DR. YASMIN RASHID- HEALTH MINISTER PUNJAB

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most serious public health issues in Pakistan. It is responsible for roughly one-third of all TB cases worldwide. In Pakistan, TB remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and the country is classified as a high TB and MDR-TB burden country. Pakistan has set a goal of eradicating the disease by 2030, while hospitals concentrated on Covid-care, the pandemic disrupted care and disease diagnosis. It's a heartbreaking story that people are dying as a result of a disease that is completely treatable and curable. If a patient takes regular medications for two months, he or she will become non-infectious and will be cured in six months if regular treatment is followed. Its administration and diagnostics are both free. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 3.3 also includes TB and calls for, by 2030, ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. The theme of World TB Day 2022 is ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve global leaders' commitments to end TB.

Mr. IMRAN SIKANDAR- HEALTH SECRETARY PUNJAB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that is a major source of illness and one of the leading causes of mortality around the world. TB was the biggest cause of death from a single infectious agent until the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ranking ahead of HIV/AIDS. In Pakistan, National TB Control Program in Collaboration with Provincial TB Control Programs strives for TB-free Pakistan by reducing the 50% prevalence of TB in the general population by 2025 in comparison to 2012 through universal access to quality TB care and achieving Zero TB death. Innovation is critical for progress.  Innovative technologies such as rapid diagnostic testing Services allow public health providers to identify patients with tuberculosis and identify resistance patterns of Ant tuberculosis Drugs in a short period, which is critical for initiating treatment early and reducing infection transmission to healthy people. World Tuberculosis Day 2022 is observed to raise awareness about the serious bacterial disease that affects the health of the lungs. The day also highlights the social and economic consequences of tuberculosis along with its health impacts globally. The theme of World TB Day is “Invest to End TB. Save Lives ensures access to prevention and care of TB to achieve Universal Health Coverage by WHO.

DR. HAROON JAHANGIR KHAN- DIRECTOR GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES PUNJAB

TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers. Each day, over 4100 people lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight to end TB. For the first time in over a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020. The most horrifying aspect of the disease is that resistance is now becoming common; as Multi Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is on the rise and currently, Pakistan is at 4th number in the world. The fact that each Resistant TB case does not spread simple treatable TB to his or her contacts, but spreads Resistant TB that is not curable with oral medications, is horrifying. The theme of World TB Day 2022 - is ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’ focuses on the need for investments and resources that are required to eradicate this disease and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.  

Dr. SARMAD WAHAAJ- PROGRAM MANAGER PTP PUNJAB

The world is running out of time to fulfill global leaders' commitments to eradicate tuberculosis. This is especially important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affects the world's poorest people, who are already at higher risk of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable, and curable disease, but it remains one of the world's leading infectious killers. This Year, the theme of World TB DAY 2022 is 'Invest to End TB Save Lives'- passes the earnest need to invest resources to ratchet up the battle against TB and meet global leaders' commitments to end TB. The Provincial Tuberculosis Control Program Punjab is constantly adapting and upgrading our methods to meet current TB challenges, which has been critical." in reducing TB infections, improving care standards, and building better health systems for a TB Free Pakistan as per Pakistan END TB Strategy. “Together we can win the fight and end the TB epidemic by 2030.