World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 each year. To mark the day and to build public awareness on the importance of early detection and treatment of TB, the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Clinic of Pulmonary Diseases hosted a press conference. As it was said during the press, tuberculosis was the disease believed to be potentially eradicable by vaccines, but unfortunately it is still the most common cause of death among all infectious diseases.
Ass. Prof. Šefika Umihanić said that tuberculosis is infectious granulomatous disease, and if not treated properly it can be fatal.” According to the World Health Organization, annually 9 million people around the world became sick with TB.The incidence of TB in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the highest in 2007 between 60 and 80% per 100 000 inhabitants, and today the incidence in our country is below 49% per 100 000 inhabitants. Tuberculosis is more common among a socially disadvantaged groups of smokers, alcoholics, drug abusers and immunocompromised patients.” said Ass. Prof. Umihanić
Prim. Dr. Kemija Prohić- Paravlić, head of the Department for TB said that the total number of hospitalized patients with TB in 2017 was 170, of which 160 patients were newly diagnosed. TB was the cause of death in 11 patient. Currently, the Department for TB has been full to capacity currently according to her.
Coordinator for tuberculosis in the Tuzla Canton, Ass. Prof. Munevera Osmić also addressed the press and said that in 2016 and compared to other cantons in the Federation of BiH, the Tuzla Canton had the largest number of reported cases. The incidence rate of TB was the highest in Živinice, Gradačac, Tuzla, Banovići and Doboj Istok.