PESHAWAR - Pakistan has suggested a three-way alliance to ensure Afghan refugees’ access to free treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
Floated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, the proposal aims to boost coordination among Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
The KP TB-Control Programme director recalled the proposal had been floated at a meeting with officials of UNHCR a few months ago.”
“We expressed concerns over the free movement of Afghan TB patients and suggested a joint bloc to ensure complete treatment of refugees,” said. Dr. Maqsood Ali Khan
Dawn quoted the director as saying they had long been providing free treatment to Afghans but some of them defaulting on treatment posed a risk to locals.
Khan, calling TB is a big problem for Afghanistan, said the UNHCR was yet to respond formally to the suggestion.
Hoping for a positive response from Afghanistan and Iran, said the strategy was aimed to offer treatment to all Afghan TB patients.
If implemented, the idea will help put in place a monitoring system through UNHCR to ensure the Afghans get complete treatment regime. (Pajhwok)