As many as 601 new tuberculosis (TB) cases, including 21 Qataris, were reported in the country in 2017, a senior official from Hamad Medical Corporation said yesterday.
“This is the normal rate of TB cases in most of the countries leading in healthcare,” said Dr Abdul Latif al-Khal, deputy chief medical officer and director of medical education, as well as head of the Infectious Disease Division at HMC.
Dr al-Khal was addressing a press conference yesterday to highlight the activities for the World TB Day, marked on March 24 every year.
Dr Muna al-Maslamani, medical director, Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) was also present at the press conference.
“We get around 50-70 suspected TB referrals from the Medical Commission daily. In addition we also have a screening programme for those who are in contact with TB patients,” Dr al-Khal said.
“Last year we had screened 2,456 people under the contact category. Out of them 527 have been put on treatment. They may not be suffering from the disease, but as a means for prevention of the disease,” Dr al-Khal said.
According to the official, Qatar has one of the best TB treatment programmes in the world.
“This has been made possible through the active support of the government. A lot of resource goes into the programme and we have the most modern treatment practices and equipment to treat the disease,” the official said.
“In 2017, we screened 11,000 patients referred from HMC facilities, primary care centres, the Medical Commission, private hospitals, and Qatar Red Crescent.
At the CDC, we have a highly specialised medical team that provides consultations and treatment for patients. If we identify someone who has been exposed to TB, we provide them with preventive treatment.
Healthcare for TB patients in Qatar is free of charge and those affected can usually return to work within two to three weeks of starting treatment,” Dr al-Maslamani said.
“The CDC is taking the fight against tuberculosis into the community with a public education, awareness, and prevention event. Tomorrow, there will be an awareness event at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Khor Mall from 3pm to 6pm. Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn how to identify and prevent the infectious disease, and clinical teams from HMC will offer free basic health checkups,” said Dr al-Maslamani.
The CDC will also hold an event today at its facility in Hamad Medical City to acknowledge the occasion with staff and patients.
“Additionally, awareness events are planned from 8am to noon in the main lobbies of Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, and Al Wakra Hospital. Hospital visitors will learn about TB, have the opportunity to receive a free basic health checkup, and receive educational leaflets highlighting the condition,” al-Maslamani said.
“Globally, more than 2bn people are infected with TB. But as a disease, people should know that TB is both preventable and curable. In Qatar, we have a very low incidence of TB, which is the result of our infectious disease control programme and education initiatives,” Dr al-Maslamani added.