Healthcare providers have lost interest in fight against TB – Dr. Frank Bonsu

The Manager of the National Tuberculosis Programme, Dr. Frank A. Bonsu, has chastised healthcare providers for their lack of enthusiasm in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).

According to him, health workers and healthcare providers have lost their sense of duty and devotion to their occupation so far as the treatment of TB is concerned.

Delivering an overview of TB control in Ghana at the 2018 World TB day celebration, Dr. Bonsu warned that the low level of optimism and poor leadership commitment in this regard is likely to erode the successes chalked by the health sector.

“The amazing and remarkable enthusiasm, passion and drive by healthcare providers working in TB control is not palpable anymore. The selflessness to duty, the personal sacrifices that they put in, the devotion to duty are difficult to find these days. Coincidentally, the energy of optimism in my addresses during world TB day, in the last four years, has been low as a result. I have sounded note of caution that the gains achieved so far will be eroded if the right leadership commitment are not provided in support of TB control”, he said.

Dr. Frank Bonsu warned that the general public should be wary since everyone is at risk of contracting the deadly sickness.

“I have painted a picture of what inaction or delayed action can do to our collective national efforts to end the TB epidemic. Nobody is free from risk of contracting TB”, he advised.

World TB day is commemorated to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Wanted, leaders for a TB-free Ghana’. The event was held at the Mantse Agbona park in James Town, Accra.