17,000 TB cases annually - Director

by a special correspondent

Director of National Programs for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Disease Dr. A.L.S.B. Alwis has indicated, that in Sri Lanka there were 17,000 people who have been affected by tuberculosis annually with 11,000 new patients identified and 350 people die of the disease.

Deputy Director General of Public Health Services of Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition, Dr. P.G. Mahipala disclosed at a media briefing held at Health Education Bureau on September 2, regarding the present condition of tuberculosis that annually eight million people are being affected by this disease and 95% have been reported from the developing countries.

Further, he said two million people succumb to this disease globally.

Further disclosed, Tuberculosis could be considered as symptom for AIDS and six million out of 33 million HIV positive cases are positive for Tuberculosis as well.

This disease is easily communicable to any one. The Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition has requested the public if any one has the symptoms of cough for more than three weeks, fever in the night, less appetite, weight loss and expulsion of phlegm with blood, should get the phlegm tested immediately. It was also disclosed that the test could be taken easily and free of charge at Chest clinics throughout the island or mobile clinics.

The affected patient should be treated under the direct observation and Tuberculosis could be completely cured.

Relevant drugs are given free by Chest clinics and it should be taken for six months without any break. The Ministry of Health has further disclosed if the patient does not take treatment or discontinue the treatment, it is communicable to others and he will succumb to this disease.

The Minister of Health Care and Nutrition disclosed his views that people should be educated in this regard and the attitude of the people should be changed and the patients should not be cornered and should be encouraged to come out from hiding their disease as it is communicable to others too.