Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif while reiterating his government's efforts for a diseases-free society has deeply commended the efforts of quarters concerned for fighting Tuberculosis (TB). The Prime Minister, in a message on the World TB Day being observed across the globe and in Pakistan on March 24, said. Pakistan paid special attention to the prevention and control of the disease through provision of free of cost TB diagnosis, treatment and pursuing rigorous community awareness programmes.
"Our endeavours for making Pakistan a progressive and developed country cannot succeed until we achieve a diseases-free society," he added. The Prime Minister noted that poverty was one of the major reasons for spread of TB. He said currently more than 300,000 TB patients were annually benefiting from free diagnostic and treatment facilities in the country.
The National Strategic Plan titled as "Vision 2020" was designed for effective planning and implementation to combat TB, which was in line with the global TB strategy beyond 2015, he added. "The Prime Minister's National Health Programme is the government's landmark initiative to help the poor by providing free medical treatment," he said, adding millions of the poor patients across the country could benefit from the programme and get free treatment from both public and private sector hospitals.
The Prime Minister commended efforts of all those engaged in the fight against TB by spreading awareness in the rural and urban areas. "I also appreciated all the concerned departments and individuals engaged in this noble mission of combating TB from Pakistan. With our joint efforts, we can accomplish the target of "Zero TB Death" and thus achieve the national goal of ensuring a TB free Pakistan for the coming generation," he added.