QUETTA: DOPASI-Organization for Sustainable Development (OFSD) in collaboration with Provincial TB Control Program, Balochistan (PTP) and mines and mineral department has organized first verbal screening chest camp in PMDC Deggari for screening of TB in a key at risk population of coal miners of Quetta, Balochistan.

Through this camp, a total of 197 coal miners have been screened for tuberculosis out of which 103 presumptive cases have been identified .This camp has been organized under the project “Screening of coal miners for tuberculosis in a key population setting of Balochistan, Pakistan.

An active case finding approach” funded by STOP TB Partnership under its TB reach Wave 6 initiative. This intervention is a unique example of a multi-sectorial collaboration between international stakeholders, Department of health, Provincial TB control program, Balochistan, Mines and minerals department and civic society.

The objective of this project is to eliminate TB in a high risk population (coal miners) for tuberculosis which as a global reference is assumed to be 10 times higher than general population. DOPASI – OFSD with the support of Provincial TB Control Program, Balochistan (PTP) and mines and mineral department will organize 102 different camps over the period of next 12 months in 05 districts of Balochistan to diagnose and treat TB in coal miners.

Stop TB Partnership – TB Reach Wave 6 is part of a broader initiative through which DOPASI – OFSD is implementing this project titled “Screening of coal miners for tuberculosis in a key population setting of Balochistan, Pakistan. An active case finding approach”, this project is primarily aimed at screening, diagnosing and treating coal miner,

their families and associated mining communities for TB in the five districts of Balochistan namely Quetta, Harnai, Ziarat, Dukki and Bolan. This project will also help the community to get aware about the prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.