National TB/Leprosy Control Programme Ends Annual Review meeting in Bo
Bo, June 23, 2014 (SLENA) -The Manager, National Leprosy/Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dr. Alie H. Wurie has disclosed the commissioning of 20 more Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment service Centres across the country, and the influx of vulnerable children affected by TB in the country.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the three day Annual Review Meeting for the year 2013 at the J and E resort Conference Hall in Bo, Dr. Alie H. Wurie described TB as one of the common killer among women and children and expressed the need for effective contact tracing, joint supervision and resource mobilization to address the situation.
He told his audience that 14 percent of children are affected with TB, and that leprosy cases are still seen coming out among children, and expressed the need to intensify efforts in high risk communities in the districts where these cases are common.
Dr. Wurie said the year 2013 was very challenging both at central and district level, pointing out that mobility, inadequate medical supplies for the effective operation of laboratories, child diagnosis, accessing funds, and multi sectoral approach to mobilize resources, among others.
Giving their success stories, the Programme Manager highlighted the screening of 37,954 suspected TB cases for 2013 as against 30,829 cases for 2012.
He enumerated the Treatment success rate of 90 percent for 2013 as against 88 percent recorded for 2012, and a dramatic reduction of deaths of 2.7 percent for the year 2013.
Dr. Wurie also dilated on issues bordering on Transitional Funding Mechanism, quality Case Management, Defaulter Tracing, and commended his staff for their commitment and dedication to service in spite of the numerous challenges during the year under review.
Deputizing the German Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA) Country Representative, the Chief Laboratory Technologist, Mr. Abu George placed his organization’s achievements and collaboration with the Health Ministry as at 1981 when they achieve a high success rate of leprosy, and in 1991 in partnership with the Ministry of Health mounted a successful TB preventive and control awareness raising campaigns, followed by the setting up of a Central Reference laboratory.
The District Medical Officer Bo, Alhaji Dr. Turay reminded his colleague District Medical Officers, Supervisors, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers and other cadre of health personnel about their roles and responsibility to join the Health Ministry and partners to help avert the spread of the Ebola deadly disease in the country, whilst the representative of the Civil Society Organization KITE Sierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Bangali Mansaray advocated for the recognition of persons with disability in meeting the challenges within the MDGs and the Agenda for Prosperity.
Other highlights of the Review Meeting include presentations on social support to people with disability due to leprosy, prevention of disability, annual data analysis of the National Leprosy/Tuberculosis Control Programme, and guide on financial fiscal requirements to enhance effective and timely disbursement and financial reporting of the programme’s activities.
JAK/KK/MOHS/SLENA
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