Trace defaulting TB patients quickly -District Health Director

Nkawie (Ash), July 24, GNA - Health personnel involved in the Tuberculosis Control Programme (TCP) have been asked to trace patients immediately they defaulted in collecting their drugs. This follow-up action as well as good record keeping and the regular checking of clients records were essential steps for keeping patients on course, Mrs Beatrice Appah, Atwima District Director of Health Services has said.

Speaking at a three-day workshop on tuberculosis control for private midwives and chemical sellers in the district at Nkawie, she said, in addition to these good patient education and regular counselling would help to advance patients compliance. Mrs Appah called for the replacement of streptomycin used for the treatment of the disease with ethambutol and pyrazinmide, pointing out that streptomycin was toxic to the foetus and should not be used by pregnant women.

She said the best way to monitor lung tuberculosis was to do sputum smear microscopy at specified times.

Mr Salia Alhassan, a Pharmacist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and a facilitator, said longer interruption of eight weeks or more necessitated outcome assessment as either default or treatment failure.

He, therefore, urged health workers to adopt home visit practice to TB patients to know their whereabouts.

Mr Alhassan said a person sharing the same confined space with a sputum positive TB patient was likely to contract the disease and, therefore, asked people, who cough for a prolonged period to report immediately to the nearest clinic or hospital for diagnosis. Mr Alhassan Umar, Atwima District Disease Control Officer, asked the participants to refer all major cases to qualified doctors.