KARACHI: Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Monday said a well-equipped facility for treatment of tuberculosis patients was being established at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH), which, together with various other such facilities across the city, would cater to patients afflicted with the lethal disease.

`All the district municipal corporations (DMCs) and union committees are also being taken in the loop to establisha citywide network for treatment of TB, said Mr Akhtar, while chairing a meeting on Zero TB Karachi and the rabiesfree city at his ofñce.

Metropolitan commissioner Hanif Mohammad, financial advisor Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, senior officials relating to medical and health departments, including director technical services attended the meeting. A delegation representing the Indus Hospital was also invited to give their input at the gathering.

Mayor Akhtar said a network had been worked out to ensure provision ofsuch facilities at dispensaries run by the KMC, DMCs and other municipal bodies in the city to cater to all parts of the metropolis. No one, he said, should be left behind to face the hardships in treating TB in one`s locality.

`Such facilities should be made available in all hospitals and dispensaries of KMC and those controlled by other municipal bodies,` said Mr Akhtar.

Dr Nasreen Salahudddin gave a presentation on rabies-free Karachi during the meeting in which cooperation and support of the KMC was particularly emphasised with the bodiesworking for the eradication of the lethal disease.

Mayor Wasim Alchtar agreed to the recommendation presented by the participants for a greater role by the city`s premier municipality in providing all possible help and support to eradicate such diseases and conditions.

He nominated the director municipal public health of the KMC as the focal person for the two programmes. The KMC official was tasked to forge effective coordination among various departments and agencies to ensure KMC`s maximum support for the cause.