Friday, August 1, 2014

Number of TB patients goes up


Tuberculosis (TB) patients
The number of tuberculosis (TB) patients at the National Tuberculosis Hospital in Kibong’oto, Kilimanjaro region has increased tremendously from 15 in 2009 to 300 patients in July this year.
 
The hospital’s Director Dr Riziki Kisonga revealed this yesterday when receiving various medical equipment and one vehicle from a Non-Governmental Organisation dubbed, Path Tanzania.
 
Dr Kisonga said the number of patients with chronic TB at the hospital has increased due to education relayed to the people, something that has encouraged them to go for screening.
 
“The number of patients has escalated to 300 due to education given to the public while others have become ambassadors of people suffering from the disease,” Dr Kisonga said.
 
Speaking on challenges, the doctor said some patients tend to run away from the hospital due to the long treatment process while others die for delaying to go to the hospital for screening.
 
Dr Kisonga said among the patients they had received, 8 skipped treatments while 20 died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
 
A laboratory technician at the hospital, Richard Kinyaa said the number of patients has been increasing because the hospital has modern machines which can detect the disease within 72 hours contrary to previously when screening would take 30 days.
 
“The modern machines have been very useful although we are facing the challenge of frequent power cuts which has been affecting the reagents stored in the refrigerator,” he said.
 
Path Tanzania Director, Zahra Mkomwa called upon the hospital’s executives to endure the challenges and serve patients professionally for the benefit of the nation, “you should use the machines which have been donated to help more people suffering from tuberculosis.”
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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