Dunkwa-On-Offin, May 16, GNA - The Secretary-General of the Ghana Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (GSPT), Mr. Joe Hagan, has called on Ghanaians to encourage TB patients to take the full course of treatment for the disease. This is because the only way the nation can be free from the disease is to help those suffering from it to adhere to instructions for treatment.

Mr. Hagan made the call at the inauguration of the Upper Denkyira (Omanhene) Branch of the GSPT, at Dunkwa-On-Offin on Friday. The Omanhene Branch was formed by the GSPT in 2007 to involve traditional rulers in the fight against the disease. According to GSPT, the Central Region where the programme started on a pilot basis has chalked a big success in minimizing the spread of the disease.

Mr. Hagan pointed out that the defaulting rate in the treatment of tuberculosis was high because patients undergo treatment lasting six months and said that called for people staying with the patients to monitor and give them the necessary assistance to take the medicine. He pointed out that the greatest challenge facing GSPT was detecting a new case for prompt action to be taken on medication. He expressed regret that some people still regarded TB as a disease caused by evil spirits and preferred going to prayer camps to health facilities.

Mr. Hagan called on the traditional authorities, churches and civil society organizations to get involved in the education to erase misconceptions people had about the disease. Nana Ataapim Kweenu VIII, Mankrado of Nkusukum Traditional Area and President of the Central Regional Omanhene branches of GSPT appealed to the Directors of the Ghana Health Service to release grants meant for the support of TB treatment to health facilities promptly. He said it had been established that lack of incentives including payment of transport and travelling expenses for patients to receive treatment at health facilities accounted for the high defaulting rate. Nana Kweenu cautioned against stigmatizing people with the disease and described "Stigmatization" as a hindrance to the fight against the disease as patience did not want to go for testing. Owese Kobina Arkoful, Tufuhene of Gomoa Abrekum and Coordinator of GSPT, appealed to the government to improve ventilation at Police cells and prisons.

He also appealed to Ghanaians to live in well-ventilated rooms. Ms Grace Antwi, a nurse in-charge of the Chest Clinic of Dunkwa Government Hospital called for incentive packages for workers of Chest Clinics and other units where contagious diseases were treated. Nana Tetefrankoma II, Acting President of Denkyira Traditional Council and President of the nine-member Omanhene Branch, pledged to liaise with hospital authorities in the fight against the disease in the area.