Nangarhar province has seen a slight decrease in the number of recorded tuberculosis cases year on year for 2023, according to local health officials.
The Taliban-run public health department in Nangarhar recorded 5,823 cases of tuberculosis for 2023. That’s slightly lower than the 5,872 cases recorded a year earlier, a spokesperson for the department Naqibullah Rahimi said.
Mr Rahimi said Monday that although the rate of tuberculosis has slightly decreased year on year, it remains a concern.
Mr Rahimi noted that of the 5,823 cases from last year, almost half of them – or 2,846 – were children.
He said that of the 5,872 people with tuberculosis in 2022, about thirty-nine people died, including 20 children, Of the adults who died with the disease, there were 10 women and nine men.
Tuberculosis specialist in Nangarhar Dr Samiullah said the symptoms for the respiratory disease include cough, headache, fever, weakness, and night sweats associated with the disease.
He said it’s important people with the disease seek prompt medical treatment.
Jalalabad resident Wahidullah contracted and recovered from tuberculosis. He said he initially sought medication from doctors without success, but he eventually recovered after undergoing six months of treatment at a public hospital.
