EU gives Rs 190 million for combating tuberculosis

The European Commission on Wednesday granted Rs 190 million for combating tuberculosis (TB) in Pakistan. The grant would reduce the prevalence of TB in Balochistan and Sindh under EU 'Aid for Poverty-related Diseases' program which would be implemented by 'Mercy Corps'.
The signing ceremony was held here between the Commission and Mercy Corps in the presence of Minister for Health Nasir Muhammad Khan.
The Ambassador of European Commission to Pakistan, Ilkka Uusitalo, and Mercy Corps Country Director Faiza Janmohamed inked the agreement.
The program will target tuberculosis cases detection and treatment by providing TB-Directly Observed Treatment (TB-DOTS) in 60 diagnostic centres of district hospitals.
Under the program, approximately 11,230 TB patients would benefit from improved TB diagnosis and treatment services each year, which will in turn markedly reduce incidence of TB and prevent its further transmission.
It is estimated that around 6.345 million men, women and children would benefit indirectly due to this program.
Nasir Khan on this occasion said that Pakistan had made a significant progress to achieve the targets of DOTS program but still a lot more was required.
He said that there was strong link of tuberculosis with other deadly diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
He said that the government was making serious efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in health sector.
He said that the government was also working on a Rs 30 billion Child and Mother Health Care Program.
The EU Ambassador said that the three-year program would target areas where the incidence of tuberculosis disease is alarmingly high.
He said that the main responsibility lay with the government, and assured that the European Commission would continue its support to combat the deadly disease.
Uusitalo stressed the need of proper utilisation of budgetary allocations. He said that money had not been properly utilised in the past and the government should effectively address this issue.
Mercy Corps Country Director said that best efforts would be made to eradicate tuberculosis from Pakistan.