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A new survey report has revealed
that in every 100 HIV infected people around 12 people (11.5 per cent) have
Tuberculosis (TB).
According to the report, in every
100 TB patient two people (2.4 per cent) have HIV. Last week, National
Tuberculosis Centre revealed the report after a yearlong survey on 400 HIV
infected people(taking Anti-Retroviral treatment) and 1,000 people with TB
(taking medicines) from its 12 treatment centres across the country.
The prevalence of HIV is rising in
Nepal and effective control measures for AIDS and TB is more important now than
ever before.
According to NTC, 45 per cent of the
total population is infected with TB.
Every year, around 40,000 people
contract TB, while 20,000 new sputum positive cases are reported and
5,000-7,000 people die from TB.
NTC had deployed volunteers and
heath workers at the Thimi-based NTC, Pokhara-based Regional Tuberculosis
Centre, Kanchancpur-based District Public Health Office, Nepalgunj-based
International Nepal Fellowship (INF) and Biratnagar-based Nepal Tuberculosis
Relief Association by establishing treatment centres in those places to find
out about HIV infection in people with TB.
During the survey, it had also
established treatment centres at the Dharan- based BP Koirala Health Science
Academy, Teku-based Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital,
Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Pokhara-based Western
Regional Hospital, Nepalgunj- based Bheri Zonal Hospital and Dhangadi-based
Seti Zonal Hospital to find out whether where those infected with HIV/AIDS had
TB.
Talking about the survey report, Dr
Rajendra Prasad Pant, NTC director, said they could now easily predict the
number of people with dual infection of TB and HIV and ease the treatment of
such people.
He said, “Though the figure of
infection of both diseases in a person is not too appalling, it is the
responsibility of every organisation working in the health sector to stop dual
infection in an individual.”
Citing the increase in infection of
these two diseases, National Tuberculosis Programme and National AIDS Programme
have been giving free treatment to such people. NTC has been providing DOTS
services to TB patients, while the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control
programme has been giving free Anti-Retroviral Treatment to people with HIV
positive.
Sujit Kumar Shah, coordinator, TB
and HIV in NTC, said TB and HIV were mostly detected in migrant workers, their
wives, housewives and women sex workers aged between 20 and 39 years during the
survey.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus.
To learn more about The Friends of
AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
