KARACHI: Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, attended as Chief Guest the inauguration of the 4th Decentralised Centre for Disease Control Site at Malir.
The centre is an extension of the Dow Ojha Institute of Medical Sciences. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Qasim Siraj Soomro, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Dr Saeed Qureshy, VC Dow University, Dr Ali Akbar Dahri, Additional Director CDC III, and faculty members and doctors.
The inauguration ceremony encompassed a detailed overview of drug-resistant TB and its timely treatment as it is not a life-threatening ailment but an utterly treatable disease. The facility of DR TB treatment at Malir Chest Clinic will significantly benefit the surrounding community in battling infectious diseases such as MDR TB and other chest diseases. Treatment of Multidrug-resistant TB is expensive (8- 10 lacs), and the Department of Health is providing it to the Government of Sindh free of cost.
Malir Chest Clinic, one of the five extensions of DUHS, is fully equipped to treat chest infections. It is the 4th decentralized Drug Resistant TB site in Sindh and the first in Karachi, with the others being at Ch-Khairpur, JIMS and DHQ Kambar.
Azra Fazal Pechuho spoke at the event and pointed out that there is an increased and unmonitored administration of anti-biotics across the country, which is one of the prime reasons for the emergence of Drug resistance.
She added that the community is fortunate to have this facility in their vicinity as it will not only allow those who suffer from DR-TB to avail the treatment facility at their doorsteps, but they should now know that drug-resistant TB is not untreatable or hazardous. She added that the DUHS OICD has always taken innovative steps, and their support has been of great help to the Sindh Health Department. She also thanked the frontline workers and doctors who work tirelessly for the betterment of the community, putting them at significant risk, and for that, she is genuinely grateful.
She then inaugurated the Malir Chest Clinic alongside Qasim Soomro and Dr Prof Saeed Quraishy.