Health News of Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Source: thefinderonline.com

Ghana targets 2035 to end TB

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The Ministry of Health (MoH), through the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTBCP), is hoping to join the world in ending the Tuberculosis menace by the year 2035.

The ministry has, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the NTBCP to help eradicate the TB menace.

Ghana will be marking this year’s world TB day tomorrow under the theme ‘Unite to end TB’ at the Mandela Park in Ashaiman.

Deputy Director-General at the GHS, Dr Gloria Quansah-Asare challenged Ghanaians to join forces with their skills, abilities, influence, networks, linkages and financial resources to support the National TB Control Programme.

She said there is no need to always wait for outsiders or donor support to help achieve any cause or make the desired impact in disease control.

She added that this is an opportunity for the country to show forth what they can do to address the challenge of TB in Ghana.

Acting Programmes Manager of NTBCP, Dr Nii Nortey Hanson-Nortey also said the health ministry is still keeping TB as a priority disease in Ghana and also introduce newer and better technologies to detect more cases.

He say they will continue to intensify active case finding interventions and identify priority groups for routine TB screening, especially among elders, farmers, miners, pregnant women and persons living with HIV.

He urged Ghanaians to help promote TB control activities and also help create awareness of the TB problem in Ghana, as well as disseminate social benefits of TB control interventions.

Dr Nortey again appealed to the general public to stimulate the citizenry’s interest in Ghana’s End TB Strategy and also help NTP to engage with relevant local stakeholders to attain set targets.