TB Juba South Sudan joins TB Day commemoration in Juba
###photo##a wild life officer on a TB designed emblem during the TB World Day celebration###
JUBA-24th March, 2010 marks the struggle to end the spread of Tuberculosis (TB) in the world. Southern Sudan has joined the struggle in commemorating the day in its Capital Juba, Football Ground on Wednesday as part in the struggle.
The government and her partners including the people in Juba all joined the day as a struggle to stop TB in Southern Sudan. World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United States of America on International Development (USAID), United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR), and Intra across are some of the humanitarian organizations involved in the celebration.
Various matters in regards to curve the disease were been addressed. The use of dramas, and music were some of the methods used to pass information to the people during the celebration. Mr. Lengs with his song “TB is threat” was one of the music which drew people’s attention to remember how the disease is a killer. Mr. Lengs was joined by the youths and women who cheers as they enjoy the music.
###Mr. Lengs and Jimmy Bob performing during the celebration of the World TB Day in Juba, Football Ground###
Jimmy Bob sang “mama I love you”. Many women rose up to join him in dancing as they show to the people their struggle on fighting the prevention of the scourge. In an exclusive interview with him (Jimmy), he explained that, his song is telling the challenging mothers as care takers of children having big role in ensuring the prevention of TB.
Brass Band
He explained that, when the mothers are care less in taking care of children; the child will be affected with various diseases that will eventually reduce the child’s immunity in fighting diseases in the body. The weakness of the body then will definitely lead to the cause of diseases like TB. He thus challenged that, despite other factors, mothers are having a big role in ensuring the prevention of TB in Southern Sudan and the world at large.
Speaking on behalf of the USAID Mr. Charles said that; “we are all here together to stop the scourge of TB”. He explained there are efforts, with time by USAID to stop the spread of the disease in Southern Sudan. According to him; ‘President Obama is about to unveil a world health initiative at the end of this year”.
###photo of Mr. Charles, Representative of USAID during the celebration of the World TB Day in Juba, Foot ground## “We want to make all efforts to prevent entry TB”, Charles said.
The initiative will facilitate USAID as a partner to the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) in fighting the epidemic disease in Southern Sudan, Charles explained during the presentation of his speech.
He urged GOSS and USAID to coordinate and come up with one unified health program on TB fight in Southern Sudan. Mr. Charles also confirmed further to double support to GOSS for the fight to reduce TB spread in the Region. “Infact I am really pleased to announce that in the coming year we are doubling our funding supports to the TB program a lot”, he said.
While Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed Head of Office WHO for South Sudan is the guest of honor during the celebration. He said that, TB affects about 9,000,000 people in the world. About three million 3,000 people die every year, he added.
He explained that, stop partnership is a multi-organizational effort. According to him; “in Southern Sudan we are covering less than what we want to cover”. He pointed out that, WHO is looking forward to treat all people suffering from TB.
He calls every body to joint the struggle in reducing the spread of the epidemic. He further acknowledged that, more efforts need to be ensured and implemented in the States level. According to Dr. Abdi, many of the affected victims with the disease are in States. “Let’s try all to stop TB”, he said.
Jimmy Bob performing at TB Day
According to the WHO 2009 estimated incidence rates for German Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA) B4 Questionnaire 2009; Sudan is reported among the world countries that, out of per 100,000 people, two hundred forty three (243) people are affected with all TB. And out of per 100,000, one hundred seven (107) people are affected with sputum sinear positive (ss+) TB.
On the other hand the Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, GOSS Dr. Olivia Lomoro said that; “we are all aware that TB is an epidemic disease. In Southern Sudan fifty six out of one hundred thousand people die every year because of TB”.
####photo of Dr. Olivia Lomoro####
Olivia pointed out that, according to TB statistics in Southern Sudan, about ten thousand (10,000) cases of TB are registered every year and three thousand (3,000) are only treated. she challenged the government and all partners to work very hard to ensure that the seven thousand cases are treated. “The partner government with our partners we need to work very hard to ensure that we control TB in Southern Sudan”, Dr. Olivia said.
“This day is special because it helps us as a government and partners to renew our commitment in the fight against TB”, she said. We have a big role and TB is really a threat, she said. “We want to request our partners that we still have a long way to go and we call their support in expanding the TB treatment centers in Southern Sudan”, Dr. Olivia said.
She said; “We want them (partners) to support the government, so that, together we can reach the people who are in need”. Adding that; “We still need more effort to fight TB in Southern Sudan”. She concluded that; “the theme of this year is possible if we work together with our partners”.
Dr. Mathew Dila is the In-charge of TB in Juba Teaching Hospital. In an exclusive interview with him on its impact in Juba Teaching and Regional Hospital in Southern Sudan, he said the impact of the disease in Southern Sudan according to the statistics in Juba Teaching Hospital is on increase. In 2008, there were twenty people who died of the sickness and one thousand forty two (1042) cases registered.
Where as in 2009, the registered cases increased up to one thousand five hundred and ninety one (1,591), he added. According to Dr. Dila, men are the most affected people than women. He explained that, it is simply because men are lazy in maintaining there personal health which in turn leads to the rise of diseases in the body that consequently reduces the body immunity leading to the cause of TB.
One of the reasons to why the sickness is in high increase in the region Dr. Dila attributed it to few diagnostic centers. He said that, there are only four centers in the whole of Southern Sudan to diagnose the epidemic. Juba Teaching hospital, Muniki, and Kator health centers are the only ones for diagnosing the disease. Adding that, there are forty one (41) centers for treating the killer disease in the whole region. According to him, the forty one centers are few for the management of the epidemic in Southern Sudan.
Ignorant within many people about the spread of the disease, limited resources to address the disease and high population in the region according to Dr. Dila are factors he explained responsible for the gradual increase of the disease in the semi-autonomous region of Southern.
He stressed that, to reduce and minimize the spread of the epidemic, there is need for mass sensitization. Centers for diagnosing and treating TB should be increased for the struggle to fight the disease.
In another different interview with Dr. Joseph Lasu, Ministry of Health, Government of Southern Sudan; he explains that, TB was discovered in 1882, 24th of March by great a scientist Dr. Robert Koch. He announced that day in Berlin, German, Lasu said.
The 24th March yearly is now celebrated to commemorate the efforts of Dr. Robert and raise awareness about TB as a treatable disease and curable. According to Dr. Joseph, TB causes three million deaths every year and close to nine million (9,000,000) people get the disease every year in the world.
“Despite efforts made in TB control, TB still remains a problem globally and to countries”, Dr. Joseph said. He added that, in Southern Sudan close to six thousand (6,000) deaths and about ten thousand (10,000) infections TB cases occur every year.
He challenged that; “TB requires all efforts from the government, donors, NGOS, civil society, business community and authorities at grass root level”. He further explained that, TB is a chronic infectious disease caused by a germ (bacteria). It can affect any age, sex and community”.
It is transmitted from one person who is affected to another through the air. It can also be transmitted through consumption of milk (cow milk), Dr. Joseph said. According to Dr. Dila, most nomadic areas in Southern Sudan are the affected with TB.
It affects the person’s lungs but can affect any part of the body. The commonest symptom is cough. Other symptoms include; chest pain, weight loss, fever, drenching night sweats among others, Dr. Joseph explains.
He said that, a person with cough that has lasted for more than two weeks can be suspected with TB. Such a person should be advised to go to a health facility to be checked and access free TB drugs if found to be having TB. According to Dr. Joseph he said that; “This is the message to every body in Southern on this day of 24th March 2010”.
