by Colleen Barilae – EM TV, Lae
Health workers from Lae district administration’s disease control unit are fighting to minimize this life-threatening disease in the country.
Coordinator for the Lae District Administration Disease Control unit, Siling Awasa, says the multi drug resistant TB cases are introduced by people.
She said Morobe has embarked on a strong TB control program aimed at addressing TB at the district level.
Coordinator of the Lae District disease control unit, Siling Awasa, has seen a steady rise in TB cases over three years.
She says each year, more than 200 cases get reported.
Today as Lae city celebrated World TB Day, it continues to promote more TB volunteer programs aimed at increasing care and treatments for patients.
In Lae, diagnosis and treatment of TB relies heavily on microscopic analysis of patients, but there has been a new problem.
For the past three years, there have been cases of people diagnosed with multi drug resistant TB, at the Angau Hospital.
Drug Resistant TB is developed when patients do not complete their prescribed medications.
Today, the Australian government pledged over K60 million to fight drug resistant TB in the Asia Pacific Region. The fight against TB in the country is an issue the government has also pledged to support in communities.
But, as the reported TB cases continue to increase, funding remains an area of improvement for the government.
