Tuberculosis (TB) is the most troublesome public health problem in Guyana at present, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy has reiterated, and it could emerge as a major cause of death if progress in the fight is not accelerated.
With 701 new cases being diagnosed last year, and 198 of these persons also testing positive for HIV, Ramsammy said the country is now at stage where “we must throw our whole weight as we confront this scourge”.
He pointed to the increasing number of persons globally who are becoming resistant to all the drugs being used to treat TB, which is referred to as MDR-TB, and noted that Guyana must ensure this form of TB does not become an issue here.
In a statement released on World TB Day observed on Monday, the minister said the focus has been on building capacity to diagnose TB around the country resulting in TB detection capacity in all ten regions in addition to 15 testing sites spanning many areas.
Testing sites are now at Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Moruca (Region One), Charity and Suddie (Region Two), West Demerara (Region Three), Georgetown Hospital, Chest Clinic and Enmore Polyclinic (Region Four), Fort Wellington (Region Five), New Amster-dam Hospital (Region Six), Bartica Hospital (Region Seven), Mahdia Hospital (Region Eight), Lethem Hospital (Region Nine) and Linden Hospital (Region Ten).
“I am encouraged by the strengthening of the VCT programs at all HIV and TB treatment centres to ensure that all TB patients are tested for HIV and vice versa, all HIV patients are tested for TB. The Ministry of Health is adamant that the only reason why a person being treated for either TB or HIV may not have been tested for either HIV or TB is because the clinic has failed to offer the testing,” the minister said.
He added that care provi-ders must be more diligent in ensuring that the relevant testing is done given that co-infection with TB and HIV is a serious and deadly matter.
An estimated $200 million is expected to be spent this year on TB locally, Ramsammy said while pointing out that Guyanese need to be more aware of TB.
Ramsammy said Guyana is working towards 100 per cent coverage with DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course), which is being fully implemented in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten, and is currently expanding to Regions Eight and Nine. He emphasized that the DOTS strategy must be rigidly implemented.
Additionally, he noted that TB in prisons has emerged as an area of concern, adding that the ministry has been able to establish active TB programmes in the Georgetown, Timehri, Mazaruni and New Amsterdam prisons. The NOC correctional facility for juveniles has also been added to the TB programme — all of which are guided by a National Committee for the Control of TB in Guyana’s Prisons.
According to Ramsammy, the disease requires a concerted and committed effort from health workers and Guyanese together. He said the country has the tools and expertise, and it was time to develop the will.
