WHO commends Ghana despite TB detection challenges

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended Ghana for the tremendous progress made in fighting Tuberculosis despite the challenges of detecting cases.

Ghana has increased its cure rate from 22 per cent in 1996 to the recommended WHO level of 85 per cent in 2010.

Patient defaulter rate has also decreased from 11 per cent in 2015 to 2.6 per cent in 2010 lower than the WHO target of five per cent.

“The new results coming out of the 2014 prevalence survey indicate that we have more undetected cases that we previously estimated and this is a major challenge”.

Dr Magda Robalo, the WHO Country Representative, said this at this year’s World TB Day, launch in Accra on the theme: “Reach, Treat, Cure Everyone: The Changing Phase of TB Epidemic in Ghana”.

She commended the Ministry of Health and the development partners for the swift efforts to adapt lessons from the National Prevalence survey to operationalize and implement WHO’s End TB Strategy.

Dr Robalo called on government and all stakeholders to join the drive and roll out the new TB strategy to ensure that everybody was reached, treated and cured.

“This is an urgent call for us to change the gear and speed up global efforts to end TB altogether and support the 20-year strategy to end the global tuberculosis epidemic”.

Dr Sylvester Anemena, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, who read the speech on behalf of the Minister, called on stakeholders to exhibit serious commitment to fight TB, with the emergence of drug resistant, which has become a threat to treatment.

Chief Austin Arinze, the Executive Director of Afro Global Alliance, expressed concern about the results of the new survey and pledged Civil Society Organisation’s support and commitment to controlling TB in Ghana.

Source: GNA