GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Nearly 1,700 tuberculosis (TB) patients were treated this year in southern Ghazni proivnce, an officail said on Tuesday.

The treament of the patients did not indicate any increase in their number, but facilites for them had improved, TB Centre head, Dr. Qahir Shams, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said patients hailing from Logar, Paktika, Paktia, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provinces also visited the centre. In 2001, there was only one centre for TB treatmentin Ghazni, but now the number has gone up to 33.

According to Dr. Sham, 65 percent of the patients were  women, seven percent children and the rest men. "The main reasons behind the diesease are poverty, war, unemployemnt and lack of awareness," he added.

frm/ma/mud