PESHAWAR: The ongoing program to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing serious difficulties when 97 employees associated with the program have been dismissed due to the closure of US global funds.
These employees include district officers, 26 doctors, and field staff. Formal notices have been issued to all employees in this regard. According to Project Director Mudassar Shahzad, the TB control program in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be severely affected due to the closure of funds and reduction in staff.
He said that the number of TB patients in the province is more than one hundred thousand, while about 60 thousand patients are currently undergoing treatment under the program.
Mudassar Shahzad further said that the shortage of staff will not only affect the treatment process but also the identification of new patients, the supply of medicines, and the follow-up system is also likely to be severely affected.
According to the project director, it has been proposed to integrate the 97 laid-off employees into the health department so that their services are not lost and the continuity of the program can be maintained. However, the final decision in this regard is subject to the approval of the government.
According to sources, the closure of US global funds is affecting TB and HIV control programs not only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also in other provinces, which is feared to create a serious crisis in the public health sector.
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