WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY 2021; IT IS TIME FOR GLOBAL LEADERS TO ACT ON COMMITMENTS TO END TUBERCULOSIS (TB).
World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 every year to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global epidemic.
World TB Day is a day offers us an opportunity to reflect and educate the public about the impact of TB around the world.
This year’s international theme ‘The Clock is Ticking’ conveys the sense that the world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end the deadly disease, made by global leaders.
The day is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year, mostly in developing countries. Most of these deaths could be prevented with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. For example, among people whose TB was detected, reported and treated in 2016, the treatment success rate was 82% globally; and in high-income countries with universal health coverage, the proportion of people who die from TB can be under 5%.
The 2013-2018 TB National Strategic Plan (NSP), Rwanda allocated $69.3 million to push TB control program in the country.
Under the plan, the Ministry of health had set a target to achieve 23% reduction of TB incidence rate from 86.0 per 100,000 people to 67.0 per 100,000 population and 37% reduction of TB mortality rate from 10.0 per 100,000 to 6.3 per 100,000 population.
Rwanda has surpassed these targets. For instance, there has been 23% reduction of TB incidence rate from 86.0 per 100,000 people to 67.0, the rate stands at 57 per 100,000 population.
The Ministry of Health introduced new TB medicine that quickly treat TB. Pharmacists across 30 districts of the country have been introduced to the new TB medicines. The new medicine targets children under 15 years with under 25kg. The new TB medicines introduced are Rifampicin 75mg + isoniazid 50mg + pyrazinamide 150 mg for intensive phase of 2 months and Rifampicin 75mg + Isoniazid 50mg for continuation phase of 4 months.
TB treatment period takes between six and 12 months for those with less intensity while those with high intensity of Tuberculosis are currently treated in only nine months which downed from 20 months.
As we celebrate the world tuberculosis day it’s important to recognize the efforts of nurses who are central in TB treatment, Prevention and Care.
RNMU a partner in the fight against Communicable and Non-communicable diseases.
RNMU members together with various district leaderships have in the past carried out community outreach activities where they educate members on the prevention, detection and treatment of communicable and non-communicable disease.
Nurses are involved in educating the public on the importance of regular testing for TB and HIV and how they can reduce on the spread of some of these diseases.
In line with this year’s theme, Rwanda Nurses and Midwives Union indeed agrees with the World Health Organization that the ‘The Clock is Ticking’. The world is running out of time to act on the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with World Health Organization’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
A nurse speaks out about treating T.B
Nsabimana Jean Marie Vianey
I work from Gikomera Health Center of Kabgayi Hospital and I am stationed in the department of combating Tuberclosis and following up the T.B cases since 2016. Throughout this period, I and other colleagues have been assisting many patients with TB especially with emergency conditions. Practically in 2020, we received a patient from Iwawa rehabilitation center, he was very depressed and underweight. The first immediate step we applied was offer counseling to him to understand that TB can actually cure. We offered him proper nutritional advice for his medication to cure him appropriately. He later cured and no one around him was infected, he returned to his daily cores and this was inspirational in a way that, T.B can actually cure if well treated and can also be prevented with proper methods. I encourage people to go for testing at any time when they get signs such as
- Coughing that lasts three or more weeks.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Fatigue.
- Fever.
- Night sweats.
- Chills.
