TB biggest health test

 MANY deaths in health facilities in Simbu are related to Tuberculosis and HIV, according to the provincial disease controller Steven Show.

He said TB was the biggest health challenge in the province and country and was causing deaths in hospitals and health centres.

Show revealed this following three days of intensive health facilities performance quarterly reviews in Chuave district.

“TB/HIV are causing many deaths according to the reports from the six districts of Simbu,” Show said.

He said disease controllers in the districts and two hospitals, including facilities run by the Church Health Services, tabled performance reports of TB/HIV programmes.

“We are adopting a uniform reporting format to critically assess the performances of each district that will lead us to develop new approaches as way forward,” he said.

“With the uniform reporting format as required by the department of health, we will easily source outside support.”

Governor Noah Kool allocated K100,000 to the programme and gave K50,000 to combat the multi- drug resistance TB in Simbu.

He said the quarterly performance reviews were very helpful as performances were assessed and new approaches devised partnership with provincial health division, World Vision, Department of Health and Church Health Services.

“We are now embarking on a massive TB/HIV awareness campaign in the districts starting with Chuave and Kundiawa,” Show said.