|
By ELIZABETH MIAE
PEDIATRIC tuberculosis is still a major problem in Papua New Guinea with
a lot of challenges.
Persuading parents to help complete treatment for their children and the
decentralisation of services out to the rural community were two major
challenges highlighted.
According to TB expert with the World Health Organisation Dr Steve
Graham, an estimated 2,000 children are treated every year but only 50%
complete their treatment, which is considered to be very poor.
Dr Graham, who is attached with the WHO in Malawi, has come to PNG along
with other team of experts from Australia to review the existing
situation and make recommendations.
Their investigations conducted at the children’s wards in Lae and Port
Moresby showed that 10% of children diagnosed with TB are admitted
daily.
The team of experts said that adult TB had received more attention than
pediatric TB but children were more likely to get severe forms of TB
such as becoming malnourished or having their brains damaged.
Families are encouraged to be screened for TB once their children have
been diagnosed with the disease.
Children are more vulnerable to infection from persons whom they have
very close contact with, and it is usually the family members.
WHO representative Dr Eigil Sorensen said it was important that once
children start on the treatment they must complete it as TB was curable.
The obvious symptom of the disease is if a person continues to cough for
more than two weeks, he or she should go for check at the clinic or
hospital.
WHO and its partners along with the PNG Government are confident of
addressing pediatric TB in the country with funding assistance coming
from the Global Fund after an agreement was signed between the parties
last week.
This is the first time funding will be given to address TB in the
country in which 25% of that will go to community awareness on TB, and
pediatric TB will also be included in the national TB programme.
 
|
