DADU, Jan 4: Cases of tuberculosis were registering a rise in the rural areas of the province and most of them were reported from Kohistan, Kachho and Manchhar lake areas due to poverty and socio economic conditions.

Two districts of Sindh, Dadu and Jamshoro were at high risk as 2,000 cases were registered at TB diagnostic centres Phulji, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Johi, Arazi, Sehwan, Bhan, Bubak and Jhangara in year 2006.

This was stated by National Technical advisor for TB, ministry of health, government of Pakistan, Dr Ghulam Murtaza Shah, while speaking at a one-day seminar on TB at local press club, on Thursday.

He pointed out that the TB diagnostic centres would be established at UC level adding that 250,000 fresh cases were being registered every year in Pakistan out of which 60 per cent were women. He said that TB was increasing rapidly in the country and Pakistan stood at number six in the world.

Dr Saeed Ahmed Memon, chairman Basic Development Needs (BDN) programme, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria, Dadu chapter, said that TB was more dangerous in comparison to AIDS and malaria and it was a challenge for us to completely eliminate this disease from Pakistan.

He said that over 90 per cent people belonging to age group of 15 years both male and female were living below poverty line in Manchhar Lake and added that TB, gastroenteritis and hepatitis-B and C were common in Manchhar area and fishermen were using toxic water with the ratio of 8,000 ppm (per litre).

According to WHO standards, consumable level of water was 800 ppm. He said that mortality rate of mother and infant was also high in Manchhar area.

JOBS DEMANDED: A large number of former employees of Dadu and Thatta Sugar mills staged a protest demonstration outside the press club on Thursday against the provincial government for government’s failure to adjust them in other departments. They were led by labour leaders of Dadu and Thatta sugar mills, Allah Bachayo and Pir Mithal.