MONROVIA – The Regional Medical Officer of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Farai Mavhnga, has said there is an unprecedented increase in Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Liberia which has placed the country among the world’s 30 high burden nations in with high TB related cases, the state0run Liberia News Agency (LINA) reports.
Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that affects the lung and is spread from person-to-person through the air or a tiny droplet from an infected person is commonly referred to as TB.
The most productive age group range of 15-54 years account for more than 87 percent of all forms of TB with obvious consequences on the social-economic development of Liberia, Dr. Mavhunga said.
Dr. Mavhnga stated that the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the WHO conducted a program review mission between July 8-19, 2019 in ten countries, noting that the MoH needs to take a serious step in tackling TB cases in various clinics and hospitals across the country.
He emphasized that the TB situation in Liberia is further complicated by the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant TB and the high incidence of HIV infection.
“We strongly motivate the national TB programmers, as well as agencies and organizations that are involved in TB control, to use the guidance included in this document to organize and implement the national programmer views we are planning,” the WHO official said.
He said the WHO responded to the call made by the Liberian government for the need to conduct an assessment of the TB status in the country because the 2014-2018 integrated review program on TB has been implemented, and there is an urgent need to implement the 2019-2020 integrated review program on TB in the country.
“Our major recommendation is for Liberia to move ahead to develop the next five-year plan collectively as a country and we will support whatever the Government of Liberia requests of us if it is in our capacity to support the health sector,” Dr. Mavhunga added.
He is optimistic that with the right strategies put into place and implemented, it is possible to reduce the high burden of TB cases in the country, noting that their intent is to improve the services of the TB program in Liberia.
Source: LINA
