georgwton: Programme Manager for the Tuberculosis Programme, Dr Jeetendra Mohanall, says tuberculosis (TB) cases for 2012 have decrease as compared to 2011.
Citing that there were 70 reported cases in 2011 as against 56 thus far for 2012, Dr Mohanall noted that TB can be categorised two ways; the first being the TB disease which means the patient exhibits sweating, fever and headaches among other symptoms, and the second as latent TB. The latter means that the virus that causes the disease is present but the person is not sick in any way.
Dr Mohanall said that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately one-third of the world’s population is infected with the latent TB virus and suffer no ill effects.
He added that persons need to remember that TB is treatable, curable and preventable and this is emphasised as the Health Ministry continues its decentralised TB campaign across Guyana.
Through the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) programme, the internationally recommended strategy for TB control that has been recognised as a highly efficient and cost-effective strategy, health workers visit and treat TB patients to ensure that they use the medicine necessary to fight the flu-like disease.
Initial treatment lasts for six to eight months depending on the physical well-being of the patient and up to 24 months in cases of the virulent drug-resistant TB strain.
There is also a Nutritional Support Programme which caters for economically disadvantaged TB patients. The programme provides them with a nutritious meal daily as part of their treatment regimen.
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