Bolgatanga, July 13, GNA - The Upper East Regional Branch

of the National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme on

Thursday noted with concern that only few people infected with

TB in the region seek medical care. Based on scientific calculations of the World Health

Organization (WHO) the programme estimated that only 32 per

cent of the people infected with the disease sought medical care

in the past two years and 70 per cent of them were cured.

This came up at a sensitisation meeting of stakeholders in the region organized by the programme to find efficient ways of reaching out to people infected with the disease and helping to control its spread.

Mr. Alhassan Batong, Upper East Regional TB Coordinator attributed the low turn out of patients to the stigma associated with the disease and a misconception that one needed a lot of money to get medical care.

He said the treatment the Direct Observed Treatment Service (DOTS) lasted for at least six months and was free of charge except that the patients had to take the medication consistently until completely cured.

Mr. Batong said the programme in collaboration with Ghana Health Service (GHS) had planned to open new diagnostic centres in the districts on pilot basis and introduce Community DOTS, whereby resident community health nurses would be trained to administer and supervise the medication of patients.

It would also train all categories of health staff involved in the TB Programme and increase the frequency and effectiveness of support visits to diagnosis and DOTS centres.

In addition, they planned to set up public education on the disease using local FM stations and the various dialects spoken in the area to reach out to the people with the messages on the need to report every cough that last for more than two weeks to hospital, the need to follow treatment for six or eight months and the various responsibilities that individuals need to carry out in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Mr Batong cautioned people who suspected they had TB against self-medication saying that even though it was a curable disease every infected person had to take the full cause of the treatment in order to be completely cured.

He asked all chemical sellers to refer all people with prolonged cough who visited their shops for medication to the hspital for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Mr. Gatson Bozie, Upper East Regional Health Promotion Officer, said the disease was caused by a bacteria spread mainly through coughing and sneezing and could affect any part of the body but mostly attacked the lungs. He advised against spitting in public and urged all to cover

their mouths with handkerchiefs when they cough or sneeze. Some symptoms of TB include cough that last more than two

weeks, pain in the chest, bloody sputum, weight loss, lack of

appetite and sweating in the night. Some stakeholders at the meeting pledged the support of

their organizations and agencies to help prevent the spread of the disease.