Arua registers 27 cases of TB drug resistance

Arua Regional Referral Hospital has recorded 27 cases of multi drug resistance Tuberculosis (TB) since the beginning of this year.

Dr. Ronald Baker Wadria, the field office coordinator, Infectious Disease Institute said resistance to anti-TB drugs can occur when these drugs are misused or mismanaged.

He also said people often despise cough yet it can convert into Tuberculosis.

"There is really nothing like normal cough. Others say "because I'm a smoker that's why I cough" and the communities will take it normal when they are harbouring a TB case" he said.

"TB is highly infectious so one person who has it can spread it to the whole community. These are the kind people we want to identify and refer to the health facilities" Wadria added.

Arua Regional Referral Hospital director, Dr. Bernard Odu admitted that due to inadequate health workers, patients tend to crowd the AHAP unit hence some fail to adhere to the drugs.