Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the World Tuberculosis (TB) Day every 24th of March. This year the theme is “It is time for Uganda to End TB” and slogan “It starts with me” in addition to the sub-theme “end Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice” for leprosy. This year, the day will be commemorated in NTUNGAMO DISTRICT RUHAMA SUB COUNTY GROUNDS on the 24thof March2019.
Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng the Minister of health has urged all Ugandans to rise up and fight Tuberculosis.
In a statement released on Thursday 21st, the Health minister said the goal of the Ministry of health is to make Uganda TB free and therefore Ugandans must join the global movement to ending tuberculosis (TB) by 2030
“TB is a preventable and curable disease but it still kills nearly many people worldwide and in Uganda every year.
TB is a leading cause of death for people living with HIV responsible for over 30% of all death. Many people with TB do not know they have it and about 40% of those with TB symptoms do not go to the health facility for treatment. People with TB usually have symptoms of cough, evening fevers, excessive night sweats, loss of appetite and unintended loss of weight,” she said.
TB is spread through air and is easily transmitted in congested places with many people especially in a closed off spaces with poor ventilation or without freely flowing air. Such places are prisons, churches, schools, homes, markets, shopping malls, offices, bars, restaurants and vehicles such as taxis and buses.
Children under 5 years of age, the elderly and People living with HIV, malnourished person have higher chances of getting TB than the general public. However, it has been found that men have 4 times more chances of getting TB and that most people with TB in Uganda are between 25 and 65 years of age.
Ending TB in Uganda means only 10 or fewer people developing TB for every 100,000 Ugandans.
Currently the ministry has 201 TB cases per 100,000 (86,000) people developing TB disease in this country every year.
The Health ministry has provided adequate infrastructure for diagnosis and treatment of TB up to the health center III level. All diagnosis and treatment is provided free of charge.
