Despite the fact that many of the South Asian Association Region Countries (SAARC), including Pakistan have developed efficient National TB Control Programs, yet experts fear that 20 percent to 25 percent of TB cases, in next four to five years could be directly attributed to HIV/AIDS.
A recently released SAARC TB Association report mentioning that TB and HIV/AIDS are serious public health problems in the region and these are on a collision course further reminded that TB accounts for almost one third of AIDS deaths world wide.
The fact was reiterated that despite many landmark technical discoveries and long years of partially successful National TB Control Programs, the SAARC region may not be able to make a dent in the problem of TB and HIV/AIDS.
To address the situation, SAARC region through the platform of SAARC TB Association was said to have initiated efforts to strengthen community participation with major focus on developing partnerships with students, media and industry workers.
Moreover, efforts are also underway to further strengthen the capacity of SAARC TB Center, functional at Nepal since 2000 to support regional and national responses to TB and HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Subsequently, WHO has also designated SAARC TB Center as WHO Collaborating Center with the motive to assist in training of health care workers including physicians and laboratory technicians from various countries of the South East Asia Region on Tuberculosis Control.
To collaborate and assist in developing and in carrying out research activities relating to Tuberculosis Control in the region besides providing a forum for advocacy and for facilitating inter- country collaboration among various countries of the region for TB and HIV prevention and care.
The SAARC TB Center designated as WHO Collaborating Center has also taken upon itself to act as a technical resource center for WHO/SEARO stop TB program and STI/HIV initiative, particularly in the area of training and operational research relating to TB/HIV.
The facility already serving as a regional co-ordination center for National TB Control Programs in the region is actively engaged in collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of all relevant information regarding the latest development and findings in the field of TB.
One of its major functions is also to strive for adequate supply at low cost of anti TB drugs and other related supplies in all member countries besides monitoring incidence, prevalence and emergence of drug resistant strains of tuberculosis in the region.
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