BAK District trains 196 to manage tuberculosis cases

Kuntanase (Ash), Dec. 20, GNA - The Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (BAK) District has succeeded in training and equipping 196 persons with skills for the treatment and management of tuberculosis (TB) under its community TB care programme.

The trainees included medical officers, pharmacists, nurses, dispensing staff, x-ray staff, laboratory technicians and environmentalists as well as chemical sellers in all the five sub-health districts.

Dr (Mrs) Agartha Akua Bonney, the District Director of Health Services, disclosed this at the first quarterly review meeting of the community TB Care Programme organised by the District Directorate of Health service at Kuntanase on Tuesday. The programme, which is on a pilot basis, is being implemented solely in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District, and funded by the Global Fund.

The programme is a novelty that is designed to replace the current practice of administering treatment to TB patients directly at health facilities rather than at their homes.

Dr Bonney said out of the 196 persons who benefited from the training, 35 health personnel were identified and specially trained to assume the role of Community TB treatment supporters. The District Director of Health Services said depending on the successful implementation of the pilot phase, two districts would be selected from each region to pilot the programme by next year. Mr George Ampaw, the District TB Co-ordinator, said assessment and evaluation of the pilot phase of the programme indicated that it was the surest means to adopt to easily reach out to TB patients with treatment. In this regard, he said the District had resolved to eventually adopt the programme as the mode of having access to TB patients for treatment.

Mr Kwabena Asante, Principal Executive Officer at the District Assembly, assured facilitators, trainees and officers of the programme of the readiness of the District Assembly and Administration to offer material and financial assistance for the successful implementation of the programme in the District.