Pakwach’s active search for TB patients 'is reducing infections'

Mar 24, 2023

This year's theme 'Yes, We can end TB!' aims to inspire hope and encourage, among other things, high-level leadership and increased investments.

Pakwach’s active search for TB patients 'is reducing infections'

Edna Piyic
Journalist @New Vision

Pakwach district local government has instituted structures that can enable the search for TB patients, said Dr Paul Ajal, the district health officer, on Friday.

The structure starts from the household level with the village health teams (VHTs) up to the health facilities.

On Friday, Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, held every March 24 to raise public awareness and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

This year's theme 'Yes, We can end TB!' aims to inspire hope and encourage, among other things, high-level leadership and increased investments.

Pakwach DHO Ajal said they have included VHTs to help identify more people infected with tuberculosis, a potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.

The bacteria that cause TB are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

“We have ensured that the VHTs on a daily basis bring samples from their communities so that we ascertain whether the suspected cases are positive or negative," said Ajal.

This routine has helped to diagnose cases and treat them to prevent infecting members of their families.  

Contacts of confirmed cases are traced and are isolated and tested for TB.

“We have eight health facilities, including one health centre IV, where the samples are tested and the cases treated daily," said the DHO.

The structures in place have helped to find a great number of people infected with the disease.

In Arua city, secretary for health Kalsum Abdu Fadimula said all the health facilities test for and treat TB.

She said they have been able to identify cases and treat the disease.

Fadimula asked civil society organizations to fund sensitization programs so that the public can find preventive ways of the disease.  

Joseph Alema, a resident of Arua city, said there is need for the city council to ensure that health activities are properly budgeted for.

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