By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Principal of Public Health Unit Fatmata Sannoh has called on the general public not to discriminate against persons with Tuberculosis but to support them get the appropriate medications.
She made this call on the 2nd February 2023 at a two day public sensitization with health workers and stakeholders on Covid-19 and Tuberculosis in Kenema.
She stated that people should not stigmatize the patients to the extent of not eating or sharing utensils with them.
She emphasized that the disease is curable as long as patients take their appropriate medication. Sannoh said Kenema district has a population of 668,219, with 132 health facilities, revealing that only 14 of these health centres have TB testing facilities.
She noted that TB is a communicable disease that is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis, explaining that it affects the human lungs and other parts of the body. She added that TB is attributed to be airborne disease.
Sannoh said the engagement is to raise awareness in the community on TB and COVID-19, as that both diseases have similar characteristics in the immune system.
She explained that the disease can be transmitted to an individual through contaminated air from an infected person. She stressed that it can easily affect people that are in a congested location for eight hours continuously.
Highlighting some of the signs and symptoms of the disease, the health expert explained that it has similar signs and symptoms to COVID such as coughing sputum or blood, fever, weight loss, night sweats and weakness.
Speaking on behalf of the District Health Medical Team (DHMT) the District Health Sister 2 Janet Tenneh Sankoh said TB is amongst the communicable illnesses that transfer at a faster rate, and that only vaccine can curtail the bacteria.
She encouraged relatives that have suspected TB patients to ensure that they are taken to the health facilities or hospitals, to help reduce the spread of the bacteria in the community.
TB Focal Person in Kenema Momodu Kondeh said TB is among the diseases that kill faster, stating that Sierra Leone is part of ten countries in the sub-region with high number of TB cases
The sensitization programme was supported by the organization Global Fund.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (06/02/23)
