Sierra Leone: ADVOCACY MEETING ON TUBERCULOSIS (TB) CONCLUDES
By Bai-Bai Sesay, Freetown – A one-day advocacy meeting with local government councils on Tuberculosis (TB) has ended at the Hill Valley Hotel conference hall over the weekend.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. J.N Kandeh pointed out that they alone cannot fight to stop Tuberculosis infections without involving the communities, therefore they thought it fit to get the community leaders so that they can all work together to achieve their goal.
Giving an overview of Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS), the Program Manager of the National Leprosy and TB Control Programme Dr Allieu H. Wurie said they want to see how they can move the issue of TN noting that for the programme to succeed there is need for the community to contribute.
He reiterated that some patients with TB do not complete their treatment which is a threat to their communities. He said one third of the world population is infected with TB and the stigma for TB has come for over hundred years ago.
Dr Wurie maintained that TB is a poverty related disease that affects all countries in the world but he however pointed out that it is curable.
He urged all to know that TB is a public health concern and it is a killer disease, reiterating that their main target is to stop TB infection wherever it goes. He added that TB is an infectious disease that affects mainly the lungs.
Chief Laboratory Technician, Abu George commended and outlined the organizations that have contributed towards the fight and control of TB.
In his address, Councilor Samba Turay pointed that different sectors of the society are now collaborating with local government to ensure that things moves forward in the country.
Chairman of the meeting, Dr Amara Jambai noted that advocacy is the first step into social mobilization noting that advocacy is part of lobbying.
He said he want the councils to come into health care system; stressing that there principle in primary health care is commenting participation. Several participants made meaningful contributions at the meeting.
