Urgent Call to Action Ahead of World Tuberculosis Day: Recognizing Symptoms and Promoting Treatment Access
Tuberculosis has been recognized as one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
Ahead of commemorating World Tuberculosis Day this year, health workers are calling on the public to report symptoms such as chest pains, persistent coughs that last more than three weeks and usually bring up phlegm, which may be bloody, weight loss, night sweats, high temperature, loss of appetite, tiredness, and fatigue.
According to the TB Coordinator at the EKMA Health Directorate, Madam Abigail Asare Yawson, tuberculosis is curable with antibiotics, which are administered to TB patients continuously for 6 months.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation, indicate that 75 million lives have been saved since 2000 by global efforts to end TB, while 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2022 leaving 1.3 million people dying of TB in 2022.
Madam Abigail Asare Yawson mentioned that amongst other treatments is Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TBT), which is employed to protect TB patients.
She adds that the treatment of TB, and urged individuals to take advantage of free TB testing which will be carried out in the Municipality.
The theme of World TB Day 2024 is dubbed; Yes! We can end TB! which conveys a message of hope that gets back on track to turn the tide against the TB epidemic.
TB is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs, It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
