Tuberculosis infection on the decline in Ashanti

 

Available statistics at the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate show that tuberculosis (TB) infection is on the decline in the region.

A total of 2,241 cases, were reported, last year, compared with the year 2015 figure of 2,367.

Dr. Kwesi Yeboah Awudzi, the Deputy Regional Health Director, said it represented a 2.7 per cent reduction.

He asked that this should however, not make anybody complacent, but spur health workers and everybody on to sustain the momentum of the fight against the disease.

Tuberculosis, he indicated, was curable and encouraged patients to report early to the hospital, more so when its treatment was free.  

His advice came as Ghana joined countries across the globe to mark the World TB Day.

“Unite to end TB” was the theme chosen for this year’s event, to promote public awareness of the disease, which had remained an epidemic – causing one-and-a-half million deaths, mostly in developing nations.

Dr. Awudzi spoke of what he termed “a worrying trend of multiple-drug resistant-TB” where treatment of the disease, using isoniazid and rifampicin drugs was becoming ineffective.

Seven such cases were seen by doctors in the region in year 2016 and one of the patients died.

The remaining six, he said, were currently receiving treatment, involving    special drugs combination.

“The condition arises when patients fail to take the prescriptions rightly causing the TB bacillus – the causal agent, to overcome the effects of the isoniazid and rifampicin drug”.

He reminded patients to stick to doctors’ prescriptions and to take their drugs regularly to avoid treatment failure.

Dr. Awudzi urged people to avoid crowded places and to cover their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Source: GNA