Health worker dispels TB myth in Awerial

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease, not a genetical condition, a health worker has told parents in Awerial County, Lakes State.

The message comes after at least 60 people who tested positive for for the bacterial infection at the Mingkaman Primary Health Care Center lab since 2022 rejected treatments.

“It is not genetic disease. It is an airborne disease that passes from one person to another,” Bang Pane-nyiir Akuok, clinical officer at Mingkaman PHCC, told the community.

However, parents or relatives of the patients have turned down any medication, claiming that it is genetical condition that does not medicines and drugs.

Tuberculosis, according to National Health Science is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

Akuok said has so far treated 202 patients with tuberculosis in 2022 alone, but he did not reveal any resistance among those that received the treatment.

However, he advised the people undergoing medication to complete their doses without irregularities to avoid resistance.

TB is the leading infectious disease killer in the world, claiming 1.5 million lives each year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the 10 million individuals who became ill with TB in 2018, approximately three million were “missed” by health systems and do not get the care they need, allowing the disease to continue to be transmitted.

The Tuberculosis Program at Mingkaman Primary Health Care Center is supported by the Arkangelo Ali Association

It is also supported by Help Germany with nutrition programs such as ready to use Therapeutic Foods and Cereal Supplementary foods for the HIV and Tuberculosis severely infected patients.