TB: Treat it early, kick it early

The National National

ONE of the effective ways to prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in Papua New Guinea is to educate as many people as possible on the disease, a nurse says.
“When people know the signs and symptoms of TB and can identify it early they can quickly visit a health facility for treatment,” PNG Power Health, Safety and Environment nursing officer Sr Rosemary Morris said.
Morris said when the people suspected of having TB get to the hospital they were not only helping themselves but others as well by preventing the spread of the disease.
She said through educational awareness programmes people would know how to care for themselves and understand the importance of faithfully taking the medication and completing the treatment.
She said that was important because the failure to stick to treatment could lead to worsening of the disease, death or making the disease resistant to drugs.
“At the PNG Power clinic, health workers monitor and make sure PNG Power staff who are on treatment are faithfully taking their medicine,” she said.
“Every PNG Power staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of TB and other common diseases because of the awareness programmes conducted by the health team.
“The PNG Power TB programme led by the Hohola clinic is a success hence I would like to encourage other State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to join the fight against TB and other diseases.
She urged parents and teachers to teach children the right habits of :

  • covering the mouth and nose when coughing; and
  • Not spitting everywhere and anywhere. She added that since TB was an airborne contagious disease, not spitting would go a long way in preventing the spread of it.

“Awareness and education programmes should go right into the rural areas where the bulk of the population is,” Morris said.
“TB is preventable, 100 per cent curable and can be eradicated from PNG.”
Business for Health (B4H) project manager Dr Ann Clarke said TB can be kicked out of PNG if everyone worked together.
She said more organisations in Port Moresby had signed up and the invitation was open to all to join the fight against TB.
She added that more work needed to be done and B4H would extend to other parts of PNG starting with Lae. B4H is a non-government organisation specialising in fighting TB.