Volta Region improves in TB case finding

Ho, July 14, GNA - The Volta region has recorded improvement in Tuberculosis (TB) case finding and quality data management for the first quarter of this year, Mr Evans Attivor, Deputy Regional Coordinator of TB and HIV/AIDS said on Wednesday.

He said 10 out of the 18 districts recorded increase in case finding with eight recording minimal decreases. Mr Attivor announced this when he delivered the 2011 mid-year report on TB and HIV/AIDS at a three-day stakeholders' conference in Ho. He said the Region also witnessed a decrease in TB deaths, defaulter and treatment failures for the period. Mr Attivor attributed the success to the vigorous public education, which resulted in people reporting cases voluntarily. "Our radio discussions, involvement of drug and chemical sellers in case finding and detection and transparency in the distribution of TB funds have yielded results," he said.

Mr Attivor, however, said stigmatization of laboratory personnel conducting sputum microscopy was posing a huge challenge to the campaign.

"Nurses and health workers who are not in the TB and HIV/AIDS departments do not want to have anything to do with our clients and even discriminate against staff on those duties," he complained.