Some 3,550 tuberculosis cases were recorded between January 2000 and December 2002 and 914 of them were found to have been affected.

Out of the number 26 of them died, 22 defaulted in treatment and the rest treated and discharged.

Dr Edward N Gyader, Medical Director of the Wa Regional Hospital said this at the Upper West Region launch of Tuberculosis Day.

He said treatment for TB was still free but the hospital would not cater for the cost of medications for other diseases such as malaria, fever and other ailments that might afflict the patient during admission.

Mr Sahanunn Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister, said health workers would be made to strengthen outreach programmes against the stigma attached to patients of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and TB.

Dr. Jacob Ddourinnah, acting Regional Director of Health Services, attributed the increasing TB cases in the country to negligence and urged the government to tackle it with all seriousness to bring its incidence to the barest minimum.

The Regional Minister later donated two bags of soyabeans from his farm to the TB ward of the Wa Regional Hospital while the Ghana Health Service donated assorted items and drinks to the ward.