The icddr,b has expanded project operations of the USAID’s Alliance for Combating Tuberculosis (ACTB) in Bangladesh in tea garden areas to ramp up identification and management of tberculosis cases.
An inauguration meeting was held on Monday at Kamalganj, Moulvibazar in the presence of Professor Dr M Shamiul Islam, Director, Mycobacterial Disease Control (MBDC) and Line Director TBL and ASP, NTP, DGHS and Derrick S. Brown, Mission Director, USAID, said a press release.
Icddr,b has been implementing the USAID’s ACTB project in collaboration with the National TB Control Programme (NTP) under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) since March 2020.
Recently, icddr,b partnered with one of the largest local development partners, HEED Bangladesh, to ramp up the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis cases in tea garden areas of Sylhet division.
Recent data from NTP shows that tuberculosis – a highly infectious disease remains a major public health threat in the country. In the first six months of 2020, 99,000 tuberculosis cases were reported. An estimated 247 cases per day remain undetected due to asymptomatic condition or lack of access to the screening of the disease.
On the occasion, Professor Islam said: “Detection of tuberculosis has become a challenge during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, I believe this partnership will not only raise awareness about the disease but also will help detect more cases and reduce the burden among tea garden workers and in the local communities.”
Among others, Xerses Sidhwa, PHNE director, USAID, Dr Pushpita Samina, clinical services lead, USAID; Dr Paul Daru, chief of party, ACTB, icddr,b and Dr Shahriar Ahmed, project coordinator, ACTB, icddr,b also spoke on the occasion.
