افزایش مراجعه‌کنندگان بیماری توبرکلوز به شفاخانه افغان-جاپان

The head of the tuberculosis (TB) department at the Afghan-Japan Communicable Diseases Hospital reports a growing number of patients visiting the TB ward.

Sayed Ali Lali said that since the beginning of the current solar year, more than 20,000 people have visited the hospital for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.

He stated: “The number of tuberculosis cases is increasing compared to previous years. There are various reasons for this; one of them is that during the outbreak of the coronavirus, the tuberculosis program faced disruptions. This disease is contagious, but it does not spread as rapidly as COVID-19.”

One of the patients, a 50-year-old woman from Kapisa who has just been admitted to the TB ward, said: “I had a cough, headaches, and fever.”

Yousuf, who accompanied the patient, added: “Our request to the government is to establish such hospitals in our provinces as well, because our route is long. When we bring a patient from Nijrab to here, their condition worsens on the way.”

Naseem Fada, a doctor, stated: “Tuberculosis patients should maintain distance at home and wear masks.”

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that in 2024, 51,300 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Afghanistan, a 3.3 percent increase compared to 2023.