Dignitaries at the press briefing
The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases that go undiagnosed and untreated in the Greater Accra Region has increased, according to new statistics by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Regional Health Directorate.
The data shared by the health directorate as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World TB Day indicates that the region is currently recording only 49 TB cases out of the expected 268 per 100,000 population, translating into more undiagnosed cases of TB.
“Within the 286 TB cases per 100,000, there are more undiagnosed cases within the population and this is rather unfortunate because TB treatment is free and we must find and treat them,” Dr Linda Van-Otoo, Regional Health Director, said.
Presenting the details of the health condition in the region at a press briefing, Dr Van-Otoo said in 2014, the region of about four million inhabitants recorded only 2073 cases, the number of TB cases detected increased to 2,391 in 2015 and then decreased to 2,248 in 2016.
“In Greater Accra with a population of over four million people, we are supposed to have over 11,000 reported cases but we have less than 3000,” she said.
Dr Van-Otoo indicated that the trend poses a dangerous threat to TB control in the country, as an undiagnosed person with active TB can infect 10 to 15 close contacts per year and two to three TB patients die without receiving treatment.
She, however, stressed that the region has recorded impressive treatment results among those diagnosed with TB.
Dr Van-Otoo indicated that the cure and success rate of TB determined by an examination of the sputum had shown 91 percent cure and 96 percent success rates respectively.
The Greater Accra regional health director, therefore, called on stakeholders, particularly the media, to help improve the case detection by consciously creating awareness about TB and the importance of diagnosis and treatment.
Two cured TB patients also shared their experience with the media, calling on all to support people with TB by encouraging relatives who cough for more than two weeks, feel feverish, lose weight and have night sweat to visit the hospitals for TB diagnosis and treatment which is free.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri & Cleopatra Nonum