Department of Public Health, SUB, Organized Seminar on Global TB Burden

The Department of Public Health, State University of Bangladesh (SUB) organized a seminar on "Global TB Burden & Operational Research: Experience from 30 years in Bangladesh" on 16th January, 2009, Friday, at 10.00 A.M at SUB. Dr. Nobukatsu Ishikawa MD, MSc (Social Med., London), PhD, Director, Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan and Consultant, WHO delivered keynote paper. Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. M. Shahjahan, Advisor, School of Health Sciences, SUB, chaired the Seminar. Students as well as dignitaries, invited guests from national and international organizations, and faculty members from SUB participated in the Seminar. Dr. Nawzia Yasmin, Head and Academic Program Director of MPH Programme introduced the Speaker.

In his presentation, Dr Ishikawa highlighted the burden of tuberculosis as a global health problem. From his 30 years’ experiences in Bangladesh Dr Ishikawa found that poverty breeds TB, as overcrowding and malnutrition escalate. He pointed out that there is no scope for complacence, rather focusing on quality of TB control can astutely shape the future. Community-based TB control programs are run with technical support from Japan to deliver directly observed therapy (DOT) while the government provides DOT mostly through thana health complexes. Students were inquisitive regarding the achievements of TB programs in Bangladesh, research issues, diagnostic aspects, strategies to prevention as well as social issues that Dr Ishikawa responded accordingly. From various experience in Bangladesh, he pointed out that empowerment of patients, women and stakeholders can successfully tackle the menace. The success of the anti-tuberculosis programs heavily depends on government commitment, appropriate and correct diagnosis, timely treatment and sustainability of the achievements so far.