Sekondi, March 29, GNA - A new regimen for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) would be introduced in the country in July, Dr Sylvester Anemana, the Western Regional Director of Health Services, said on Friday.

He said in an address read for him at a press briefing to commemorate the World TB Day at Sekondi that the duration of treatment of the disease would reduce from eight months to six months under the new regimen.

The theme for the celebration is "TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere". Dr Anemana said presently, the first two months of the treatment of the disease includes an injection, which could only be done by a nurse or a health worker at health facilities.

To make it possible to treat the disease everywhere, the injection is being replaced by tablet and while no new drug is being introduced, the combination of drugs is being changed into stronger ones. Dr Anemana said the new treatment regime forms part of the Enablers Package that has been introduced and designed to ensure improved access to TB services by patients.

The Package reduces the cost of treatment to patients and facilitates and motivates health providers to work harder to improve treatment successes.

Mr. Joseph Newton, the Regional Focal Person of the National TB Control Programme, said in Ghana about 52,000 new cases of TB are reported each year.

In the Western Region, about 1,716 new cases of TB were reported in 2005 and 1,778 cases in 2006. About 702 deaths from TB were recorded in 2005 and in the Western Region about 72 deaths were recorded in 2005 and 58 deaths in 2006.

The Wassa West District has the highest TB prevalence rate in the region due to the mining activities there, he said. Mr. Newton said almost all TB deaths could have been prevented had the patients sought early medical treatment.