Adaklu district reports low TB case

Only three cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in the Adaklu District in the first quarter of 2013, Dr. Moses Boni, the District Health Director said on Wednesday. He was addressing the closing session of a training workshop for 30 persons, who would help in the detection and treatment of TB in the district. The trainees would work with chiefs and school health management teams and other stakeholders in an effort to eradicate TB in the district. The workshop was organized by GOSANET Foundation with support from Stop TB Partnership and National TB Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service. It was on the theme: �Think TB, Talk TB.� Dr Boni said ignorance, superstition, victimization and stigmatization accounted for the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in the District. He said the disease, though dangerous and contagious was curable if detected early. Dr. Boni appealed to government to upgrade the health centre into a district hospital with advice to the people to practice preventive health. Mr. Eric Quaye Appiah, Volta Regional TB/HIV and AIDS Coordinator cautioned the trainees against divulging information about those suffering from the disease because �it is unethical.� Ms Pearl Baah, Adaklu District TB Coordinator, reminded the trainees to limit themselves to explaining the signs and symptoms of the disease and its prevention to the communities and assist those with signs and symptoms to seek medical attention. They should not pretend to be health professionals. Mr. Samuel Atidzah, Executive Director of GOSANET Foundation, said his organisation was collaborating with other stakeholders in the Ho Municipality, Agortime-Ziope and Adaklu districts to create awareness about the disease, its control and eradication. He said his organisation had targeted to create TB awareness for 15,000 pupils and students and 8,000 adults this year. Mr. Dickson Ogordo, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Education in charge of Administration and Finance, who chaired the function, said behavioral change was the surest way to control the spread of the disease.