Bhaktapur, Feb. 25: The visiting team of South Asian Journalists visited the National Tuberculosis Centre (NTC) and SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC) at Thimi, Bhaktapur district recently.

The team led by Sri Lankan journalist Aruni John is here at the invitation of the Panos South Asian Office Nepal.

The team has 18 journalists from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

On the occasion, centre’s director Dr Dirgha Singh Bam said the DOTS programme which began in 1996 is now under implementation in 49 districts of the Kingdom and the cure rate of the disease here is 85 to 89 percent.

The centre has also implemented the DOTS programme in prisons, medical colleges and private hospitals and clinics. On the occasion, centre’s Deputy Director Dr Prahlad Kumar also spoke on the occasion.