Take preventable measures to curb outbreak of TB

Accra, March 18, GNA - The public have been advised to take preventive and pro-active personal health measures to check the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in the society. Ms Dora Lotsu, Principal Nursing Officer (Public Health) of the Korle Bu Chest Clinic gave the advice at the celebration of this year's World TB Day organized by the Clinic in conjunction with Global Alliance and the Ministry of Health.

She said there was the need for members of the public to lead life styles that will not help spread the TB disease and suggested that all should endeavour to cover their mouths whenever they coughed. The Day which was on the theme: 'I'm stopping TB' saw the nurses and other staff of the Chest clinic going on a float along the main roads of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and education talks and interaction with patients and the public at the various Out-Patients Departments.

The health personnel carried placards some of which read, "I'm stopping TB now", "We're all at risk", "TB is Curable", TB can kill" and "Join the fight against TB and HIV". Ms. Lotsu stressed that TB is curable, provided one reports any early traces of cough and completes the full treatment, adding that, the treatment is free and so the public should feel free to report at the clinics for treatment. She also advised that anybody who coughs for about two weeks without stopping to quickly report to the nearest health facility for a check-up and treatment.

Ms. Lotsu said the public and private sector have been of tremendous help towards the prevention of TB but much still needed to be done by the public to stop its spread since a lot of measures such as the Directively Observed Treatment (DOT) and supplementary efforts of health personnel has gone a long way in checking treatment and drug usage.

Chief Austin Obiefuna, Director of Global Alliance told the Ghana News Agency after the event that, TB is a devastating problem in the society that calls for the total involvement of all to stop its spread. He said the issue of TB is growing daily with the advent of HIV/AIDS and so its control and eradication should not be left solely to health personnel to tackle. Chief Obiefuna said: "We don't want to live with TB, we want it to go and so all should get involved in its eradication. TB is not HIV and so those with TB should go for treatment and seek counselling".