PRIORITIZE TB CASE IDENTIFICATION IN ALL HEALTH FACILITIES – MEDICS
Moyo General Hospital sign post.
By Anyidi Emmanuel
Moyo
Despite improvements in tuberculosis (TB) indicators in Moyo District following the introduction of the TB Mobile Van intervention, health experts have continued to urge health workers to prioritize TB case identification in all health facilities. They say this will help detect more TB cases within communities and sustain the district’s improved performance indicators.
During the third quarter, the TB Mobile Van intervention recorded low percentages of presumptive TB patients among suspects, while the positivity rate among those tested stood at 2.2 percent. However, the TB detection rate rose to 144 percent, surpassing the national target of 98 percent. The treatment success rate currently stands at 29.5 percent.
Presenting the report, Obulejo Jimmy, the District Biostatistician, noted that TB case identification in health facilities has not performed well across all quarters.
“For TB case notifications, we are not performing well across all quarters. Screening has also not reached 100 percent. Those screened are not being properly assessed as TB suspects, yet patients with persistent coughs should be identified early for further testing,” he said.
Dr. Oculi William, the Coordinator for the Infectious Diseases Institute, a non-governmental organization implementing health services in Moyo, emphasized the need for continued community TB screening outreaches by health workers in order to sustain the district’s improved performance.
“Health workers are at risk of contracting TB because they interact closely with patients and also use public transport. The earlier we identify TB cases and initiate treatment, the better for both health workers and the community,” he stressed.
Vunya George, the TB focal person at Moyo General Hospital, said community screening remains very important through contact tracing and hotspot screening, especially in mining areas where many people live in camps.
“There is mining activity taking place in Gbalala, which is already becoming a hotspot in Laropi Sub-county, with many people sleeping in camps. Let us strengthen our outreaches, contact tracing, and hotspot screening, including in schools,” Vunya said.
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