Volta Region records 1,763 TB cases in 2013

One thousand seven hundred and sixty-three (1,763) tuberculosis (TB) cases were detected in the Volta Region in 2013, out of which 1,340 are undergoing treatment.

Three hundred and forty-four (344) of them have been completely cured.

Mr. Eric Quaye Appiah, Deputy Regional TB and HIV and AIDS Coordinator gave the statistics at a day’s refresher training course in Ho at the weekend for 32 TB Community Volunteers and Leaders drawn from the Adaklu District.

It was organised by GOSANET Foundation, a non-governmental organisation based in Ho with support from Stop TB Ghana Partnership.

Mr. Appiah said TB is among the three top causes of deaths among women from 15 and 44 years.

He said 95 per cent of TB deaths occur in low and middle income countries and regarded as one of the world’s top infectious diseases.

Mr. Charles Azagba, the Acting District Health Director, said though TB is dangerous, “the good news is that it is curable if detected early and the treatment is free”.

He said superstition associated with TB is a major setback to its cure and appealed to the volunteers to work in collaboration with community health nurses in their communities to educate the people about the disease.

Ms. Pearl Baah, Acting District TB Coordinator, listed coughing continuously for 24 hours, night sweat, fever, loss of appetite, blood stain phlegm’s and weight loss as some symptoms of the disease.

She appealed to TB patients to eat balanced diets to strengthen their immune system.

Mr. Samuel Atidzah, Executive Director of the GOSANET Foundation, said his organisation is working in 10 communities and 12 junior high schools in the district in TB advocacy, communication and social mobilisation.

He said through the collaborative effort of the volunteers, the Foundation was able to reach out to 28,230 people in the district on TB education.

Mr. Cephas Ofori, a Training Officer of GOSANET Foundation told the volunteers that communication is the important tool in the communities and appealed to them to be worthy ambassadors of the Foundation.