Tuberculosis cases up at Offinso Municipality

The Offinso Municipality saw a total of 101 cases of tuberculosis (TB) in 2012, compared with the previous year’s figure of 75.

Ms Beatrice Appah, the Municipal Director of the Ghana Heath Service (GHS), who announced this, said it had become urgent to step up the fight to stop its spread.

She said it was important to assist those infected by the disease to report early to health facilities since TB is curable. She added that the drugs were there and the treatment was free.

She was speaking at this year’s World TB Day celebration at Offinso under the theme “Stop Tuberculosis at my lifetime”.

Mrs Appah spoke against stigmatization of patients and said that was forcing many of them to go underground, something she noted, was unhelpful to the fight to rein in the infection.

Baffour Kese-Amankwaa, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), advised people to cover their mouth when coughing and avoid spitting in public places.

He said people should also sleep in well ventilated rooms to reduce the spread of the disease.

Source: GNA