Peasant farmers advised to boil cow milk before drinking

Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - Peasant farmers and their families have been advised to adopt precautionary and preventive measures of boiling their cow milk before drinking to avoid contracting the tuberculosis (TB) diseases from the animals.

The farmers, especially in the rural areas should ensure that they protect their families and also adopt proper lifestyles to put them in a better stead to undertake their farming practices devoid of preventable ailments and contracting diseases.

Mr Abudu Imoro, Programme Manager of Afro Global Alliance, a non-governmental organisation engaged in sensitizing the public about TB and its effects, said these at a day's community durbar organised by the Chiefs and people of the Siniensi Traditional Area of the Builsa District of the Upper East Region at Siniensi.

The forum which was organised by the Afro Global Alliance in conjunction with the National Tuberculosis Programme and the Builsa District Health Services was to sensitize the people, including queen mothers, opinion leaders, youth organisations and social groups and to introduce a number of volunteers who had undergone a training course on the prevention of the TB disease and its devastating effects, especially to people in impoverished communities.

Mr Imoro told the people that the volunteers have been given the needed and necessary skills and knowledge to undertake communication and behavioural change activities in the various communities.

He said that with the experience acquired the volunteers are better placed to visiting homes, faith based organisations, interact with interest groups and youth associations to sensitize them about the disease.

Mr. Imoro said the volunteers have also been equipped to perform additional functions such as treatment supporters by assisting persons diagnosed of the TB disease to take their medication regularly.

Mr Abubakar Abdul Rahman, Disease Control Officer of the Builsa District Health Services explained to the gathering the causes of TB, its mode of transmission and effects on the individual and the society He stressed that, TB treatment was free and therefore advised the people to attend anti-natal clinics to seek for early diagnosis of the disease and also urged those who cough for more than two weeks to visit the clinic for testing.

The Chief of Siniensi Traditional Area, Naab Apegjiak Afulang, II expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the organisers of the durbar for their educative programme and urged the volunteers to ensure that they approach their work with the seriousness it deserves.

Naab Afulang pledged the unflinching support of the traditional and community leaders towards the success of the exercise in the area and prayed that it would achieve its desired objectives in creating the necessary awareness and to increase the rate of case detection in the District.

The Durbar was preceded by a two-day workshop for 20 Community-based volunteers who have been trained to undertake behavioural change communications in the various communities.

The volunteers discussed topics including types of TB, what is TB, mode of spread of TB, factors that facilitate the spread of TB, signs and symptoms of the disease, how to control the disease, DOT's (Directly Observed Treatment) strategy, community entry procedures and filling of TB treatment supportive cards.

The durbar was also addressed by the Medical Assistant, Mrs Francisca Abaluk and the Doninga Community Health Officer, Mr Ayaanu Alhassan.