TB, HIV/AIDS education in churches commended

The General Overseer of the Lamb of God Ministry, Reverend John Felix Cobbinah, at Darkuman in Accra, has called for a sustained Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS education in churches to help curb the spread of the diseases.

He said it was important for Christians to be educated on the dangers of TB and HIV/AIDS because the disease commonly spread from an affected person to an unaffected person through coughing, sneezing and spitting.

Rev. Cobbinah made these remarks when the National Tuberculosis Control Officers, in collaboration with Janok Foundation, a non-government organization (NGO), educated the church members on the dangers of the disease on Sunday.

Miss Reginal Lumoh, Principal Nursing Officer of the Korle-Bu Chest Clinic, said densely populated areas in Accra such as Nima, Mamobi, Sukura, Russia, Chorkor and Ga Mashie are at high risk of getting TB because of overcrowding and the poorly ventilated rooms they occupy, especially if there is an infected person among them.

She said those who work in the mines and other dusty environment tend to inhale a lot of dust, which over a period of time, weakens the lungs and makes them more likely to develop the disease.

Miss Lumoh said TB, like other infectious diseases, can be cured when it is properly supervised, adding that, the patient stops being infectious and can lead a normal life in a community provided the person continues to take all his medicines for the duration of the treatment.

“If we allow TB patients to treat themselves partially, then we are encouraging the spread of the diseases in our communities. It is, therefore, the responsibility of all to encourage and ensure that patients or suspects, are put on treatment and that they complete the appropriate medicines,” she explained.

Miss Jane Amerley Oku, Chief Executive Officer of Janok Foundation, an NGO, said the best prevention is for everybody to ensure that TB patients at home take their medicines as prescribed.

She said the health needs of the people had been a priority for her foundation hence the need to help sustain not only TB, but HIV/AIDS education, and extend the messages to people in churches and other social gatherings.

Miss Oku said through such activities, people could help reduce the spread of the disease and asked everyone to identify and reach out to persons who need the services of the foundation.

At the Kaneshie Secondary Technical School, Mr Eric A. Amarh, Headmaster of the school, also expressed gratitude to the TB Control Officers and Janok Foundation for bringing the TB education awareness programme to the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) meeting.

He reminded the youth, who due to ignorance, engaged in unprotected sexual activities and become exposed to several unwanted health challenges, hence the need to be watchful.