KARACHI: A workshop focused on the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) 2023 targets for tuberculosis (TB) was recently held by the Bridge Consultants Foundation (BCF), covering crucial areas of TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and financing.
The workshop also emphasized crosscutting themes, including equity, gender issues, and human rights, particularly addressing challenges women face in accessing TB services in Pakistan.
The event brought together stakeholders to assess progress toward UNHLM goals, with particular focus on Sindh.
Participants, including Minister for Women Development Ms. Shaheena Sher Ali, Dr. Samreen Qureshi from the CDC, activist Sheema Kirmani, Zulifqar Ali Bhutto Junior and Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mr. Iqbal Detho, highlighted social and religious stigmas that obstruct women’s access to TB services.
Minister Sher Ali reiterated the Sindh government’s dedication to tackling these barriers, while Sheema Kirmani called for proactive measures and adequate budget allocation to support these efforts.
JAB Junior emphasized the importance of a grassroots approach, and Dr. Saleem Kazmi offered insights into the Global TB Report from a Sindh and Pakistan perspective.
Concluding the session, Dr. Tajammul Baig stressed the need to reduce financial burdens on TB patients and incentivize support for daily-wage workers, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts to address TB and other infectious diseases effectively.