KHAR: Speakers at a seminar in connection with the World TB Day expressed concern over the increasing number of tuberculosis patients in the tribal areas and stressed the need of joint efforts tocurb the disease.

National TB Control Programme in collaboration with the local health department organised the seminar the other day. Physicians, tribal elders, health officials and social activists were in attendance.

The speakers included medical superintendent of the agency headquarters hospital, Dr Nazir Khan, agency TB control officer Dr Abdul Haq, assistant agency surgeon Dr Ikramullah Khan Safi, Gul Shahazada and others.

They highlighted the causes of tuberculosis.

The speakers said that TB transmitted through bacteria when a patient coughed, sneezed or spolce. However, they said that TB didn`t transmit from shaking of hands, sharing food and drink with the TB patient.

They mentioned that TB bacteria usually attacked lungs, but could also hit any other part of the body such as kidneys, spine and brain.

Speaking on the occasion, Bajaur TB control officer, Dr Abdul Haq, said that TB was one of the fast spreading diseases in the tribal areas where more and more patients emerged over the last several years.

He observed that poverty, joint family system, lack of healthcare, awareness, use of drugs and tobacco were the major reasons of increasing TB patients in the agency.

However, he said that preventive measures, proper and timely treatment could easily help control the disease.

BOMB DEFUSED: Bajaur Levies defused an improvised explosive device planted by unidentified miscreants on a busy road in Khar tehsil late on Tuesday night, an official said.

He said that the administration had received a tip-off about the presence of a remote controlled bomb on the main Khar-Peshawar Road in Rashaki area.

The official said the levies personnel along with officials of the bomb disposal unit reached the spot and defused the device.