SIALKOT, Feb 4: The Punjab health department launched on Monday a ‘directly observed treatment of short course (DOTS) programme in collaboration with local business community for the eradication of TB from the district.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at Anwar Club, Pakistan Health Services Director-General Admiral Dr Muhammad Aslam (retired) said that the government has allocated Rs600 million to eradicate TB under a phased programme.

He said that the DOTS programme would be helpful in making the Sialkot a TB-free district.

Punjab Health Services Director-General Dr Yaqoob Jaffar said that 25 per cent TB patients visit government hospitals for treatment, while, 75 per cent consult either hakeems or private doctors.

Sialkot DCO Capt Zahid Saeed (retired) said that under the DOTS programme, 13 diagnoses centres had been established at 100 government hospitals of the district.

He said 2,000 TB patients would be given free medical treatment for eight months at these centres.

Sialkot District Naib Nazim Ali Asjad Malhi said that a special session of the district council would be held to create awareness among the members about TB.

World Health Organization’s Punjab operation officer Dr Asmatullah, Punjab TB Control Director Dr Mushtaq Sulehri were also present on the occasion.

NO BUILDINS: There are 190 primary and middle schools in Sialkot district and 424 in Narowal district without buildings.

According to a report of the education department, these schools have also been suffering owing to staff shortage, specially of teachers.

District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid said new recruitments would be made soon to meet the staff shortage. “We have chalked out a plan in collaboration with the Unicef to remove all the obstacles in the education sector, besides allocating huge funds for the provision of basic facilities to schools,” he said.

The Punjab government in collaboration with the Unicef and the local business community had launched a ‘universal primary education programme’ in Sialkot district with an objective to ensure 100 per cent enrolment of children between five and seven years in primary schools, he said.

Villager killed: A Pakistani villager was injured in an anti-tank landmine blast in Suragpur village of the Chaprar sector near the working boundary early on Monday morning.

According to official sources, Shahid Mehmood, 27, was working in his fields when a Pakistani-made anti-tank landmine went off, injuring him seriously.

The injured was admitted to the local CMH in critical condition.