22 Mar 2013

World Vision PNG pushes fight against TB

1:50 pm on 22 March 2013

World Vision says everyone in Papua New Guinea can do more to limit the spread of tuberculosis.

Its country leader, Curt Von Boguslawski, says World TB Day events will be held around PNG this weekend and people need to realise the disease is treatable and the treatment is free.

He says there will be campaigns in Port Moresby, Madang, Morobe and Goroka as the National TB Programme now covers all provinces.

He says a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks is a key symptom of the infectious respiratory illness.

He says the government, donor agencies and corporate sponsors, have all recently stepped up their efforts to detect and treat TB

"Also about the necessity for every single one to step up and to do something about TB. To take their family members, if they observe symptoms of prolonged coughing, weight loss, and loss of appetite, to bring them to a health centre where they will be tested and they will be put on treatment."

Curt Von Boguslawski says the Health Department's new strategic plan is likely to focus on multi drug resistant tuberculosis, co-infections with HIV, and TB in children.