DHAKA:  The number of people being infected with tuberculosis (TB) in the country is falling as 79.4 people are found infected in every one lakh annually, a survey report said.

Only 33 persons, out 50,098 over 15 years age, were found infected with TB in different parts of the country during the survey.

The report said the rate of infection is declining day by day and the rate of infection in villages is more than that of urban areas.

Men are being infected more compared to female by the disease. The survey report said some 32.2 women are infected with the disease against 99.2 males in every one lakh.

The survey report was published Wednesday at a seminar held at a city hotel, jointly organized by the ICDDR,B and Health Ministry.

Speaking at the seminar Health Minister Dr. AFM Ruhal Haq said 1,050 centres are providing treatment to the TB patients free of cost. Now consciousness of people is essential to prevent and check the disease and the government is doing this job, he added.

The health minister called upon the donor agencies to come forward in aid of the government to increase the awareness of the people about the disease.

Dr. K Zaman, who conducted the survey, said the rate of children being infected by the disease is also diminishing.

Only 2.8 per cent children of the age group of 5-9 are being infected with the disease while 5.4 per cent children of the age group of 10-14 are falling ill by the diseases. Dr. Ruhal Haq said if consciousness  increases, the number of infection would decline further.

The ICDDR’B has conducted the survey with the financial assistance of World Health Organisation and the USAID.

State Minister for Health Dr. Captain (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir, Health Secretary Sheikh Altaf Hossain and Director General of Health Directorate Prof. Shah Monir Hossain attended the seminar.

BDST/12.54, July 7, 2010