JEDDAH: Stop TB Jeddah Youth group organized an awareness program on World Tuberculosis Day (TB Day) in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah and the World Health Organization, Thursday, at the InterCwwontinental Hotel. Representing Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Jeddah Health Affairs, Dr. Naila Abu Braids, General Coordinator of the Stop TB program, said that a number of studies confirmed that the disease is still prevalent in our society, and needs efforts and awareness to eradicate it. As per statistics, she said, the number of TB patients in the Kingdom is less than other countries of the region. However, the authorities concerned will continue their anti-TB campaign till April 22, 2011, she added. Dr. Sami Eid, Assistant Director of Health Affairs for Primary Health Care, in the Directorate of Health Affairs, stressed the need for creating awareness of the disease through forging partnerships with various sectors of society and the Health Ministry, with the aim to investigate the causes of the disease and to develop scientific strategies to solve the problem. Dr. Najla Mandoura, Stop TB Program Coordinator, discussed the Royal Order regarding provision of free TB treatment. “The main aim of this year's program is to spread awareness on the individual level and to groups and to partner with institutions, colleges and universities, to meet the Millennium Development Goals set by the UN regarding TB,” said Mohammad Bakhrieba, the leader and founder of the Stop TB Jeddah group. He also said that the stop TB campaign targets all segments of society, through awareness messages broadcast through radio every day and at commercial centers during the weekends. He also expressed his appreciation for the role of the private sector and medical students at King Abdulaziz University and Umm Al-Qura University in spreading awareness of TB and and the ways to prevent it. Stop TB group Jeddah also presented a comedy play on TB awareness at Serafi Mega Mall Thursday.
