Today marks the 40th anniversary of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. The purpose of this commemoration is to raise awareness about TB and the successes made in preventing and treating this disease, as well as to highlight the challenges associated with this disease. The theme for this year is: ‘Invest to End TB. Save lives,’ in other words ‘Invest in TB control and save lives.
Tuberculosis is still a public health problem with an estimated 10 million patients in 2020 of which only 5.8 million were discovered and reported, an 18 percent decrease compared to 2019. This is attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to essential services for tuberculosis research and control.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs and is transmitted through the respiratory tract. On March 24, 1882, the scientist Robert Koch discovered the bacterium responsible for TB. This milestone made it possible to develop drugs for this disease. 140 years after this discovery, TB still poses a serious threat to global health, especially in developing countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain the spread of the infection have put us a few steps back in making progress in securing essential services for TB control and reducing TB incidence. Only 58 percent of the estimated number of TB patients have been reported and the strategic goals for ending the TB epidemic are under threat.
In 2020, 1.3 million people will die of HIV negatives and a further 214,000 of HIV positives worldwide. This is attributed, among other things, to reduced access to diagnostics and treatment.
Worldwide it has been noted that there is a decrease in the resources available for TB control. This while the aim is to make more funds available. The National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) in Suriname has registered 93 tuberculosis cases in 2021. This is a decrease of 16 percent the year before (110 cases in 2020 and 139 in 2019).
The percentage of successfully treated cases in 2020 is 74 percent and 15 percent have died. 10 percent of cases are lost to follow-up (withdrew from care and could not be contacted). This is a decline compared to 2019 where 78 percent were successfully treated and 2018 was still 87 percent.
Thus, while we are registering fewer cases which could be the result of massive implementation of cough hygiene measures, we also have to take into account that there may be underdetection of TB cases due to either less access to care facilities or that caregivers are less inclined to are to consider TB.
The NTP tries to contribute to the fight against TB by training relevant stakeholders. Work is also underway to raise TB awareness among both health professionals and the general public. The NTP will further promote the early detection of tuberculosis in mainly high-risk groups and ensure that the percentage of successfully treated patients improves further.
The community is once again called upon to observe infection prevention measures necessary to reduce the transmission of both tuberculosis and COVID-19. When coughing, it is advised to use a paper tissue that covers the mouth and nose. After coughing, put the tissue away in a closed barrel. Then wash your hands with soap and water or possibly use a disinfectant. If no tissue at hand, cough into the elbow fold.
The community is reminded that tuberculosis still poses a threat to the community and therefore symptoms of cough for more than two to three weeks, possibly accompanied by fever, weight loss and night sweats, are considered tuberculosis. Contact your GP by telephone so that the correct instructions can be given.
We would like to remind service providers to still consider tuberculosis in the above mentioned complaints. Only when we look closely for tuberculosis cases will we be able to detect them early and stop the transmission.
Policy makers are called upon to consider TB as a priority and to make the necessary financial resources available for adequate TB control. Without sustainable financing for TB control, we will not achieve the goals set in the END TB strategy and save the intended lives.
If you have symptoms that are suspicious for TB, such as a cough for more than two weeks and/or fever, weight loss and night sweats, contact your GP or the National Tuberculosis Program at Rode Kruislaan # 03 and have yourself tested for tuberculosis.
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