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Credibility Assessment
Quotes named Ministry of Public Health spokesman Sharafat Zaman with specific details on 51,419 TB cases in 2024, treatment facilities, and 138 GeneXpert machines across 34 provinces. Includes direct input from named specialist Dr. Iqbal Hamidi on TB symptoms and treatment durations, providing concrete medical facts from a single credible source with logical access.
The Ministry of Public Health has stressed the importance of ongoing international support in combating tuberculosis. Diagnostic and treatment services for tuberculosis are available free of charge at 3,189 health centers throughout Afghanistan.
A specialist in respiratory diseases and tuberculosis at the Afghan-Japan Hospital stated that tuberculosis is a treatable disease and encouraged people to seek medical help promptly if they experience symptoms.
Sharafat Zaman, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the number of tuberculosis patients visiting health centers has risen compared to previous years. In 2024, around 51,419 tuberculosis cases were detected, diagnosed, and treated, marking a 3.5 percent increase from 2023. Zaman said the National TB Control Program, under the Ministry of Public Health, handles the control and elimination of tuberculosis across the country. He linked the rise in reported cases to the expanded availability of diagnostic and treatment facilities nationwide.
“TB diagnostic and treatment services are provided free of charge at 3,189 health centers nationwide,” he said. “In areas without diagnostic facilities, patients’ sputum samples are collected and sent to the nearest center for testing. Once confirmed, treatment kits are delivered to these locations, ensuring full treatment for patients.”
To enhance diagnostics, Zaman mentioned that 138 GeneXpert machines are operational across 34 provinces, allowing for quicker and more precise tuberculosis detection. Specialized treatment centers for drug-resistant tuberculosis have also been set up in seven zones and five provinces.
Zaman pointed out the vital contributions of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, along with other international organizations, which offer financial and technical assistance in the fight against tuberculosis in Afghanistan.
Dr. Iqbal Hamidi, a respiratory disease and tuberculosis specialist at Afghan-Japan Hospital, described tuberculosis as a chronic, bacterial, and infectious disease that spreads through breathing, eating contaminated food, or touching infected objects. In rare instances, it can transmit from a pregnant mother to her fetus. Common symptoms include fever, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, and high fever.
He explained that if tuberculosis impacts the lungs, it causes respiratory issues; if it affects the digestive system, it leads to diarrhea or constipation; if it involves the reproductive system, it may result in infertility; and if it targets the spine, it can cause curvature and disability. Dr. Hamidi advised tuberculosis patients to steer clear of crowded areas and to wear masks to limit infection spread.
Dr. Hamidi noted that tuberculosis is treatable, with treatment length varying by type. Pulmonary tuberculosis generally requires about six months of treatment, while bone tuberculosis can take up to a year. Treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis spans 18 to 24 months.
In a message to families, Dr. Hamidi urged: “If anyone in your household has
