Tuberculosis (TB)

Secretary for Health Dr. Osborne Liko said the number of TB cases increased from 30,000 notifications in 2021 to 37, 000 in 2022. This represents a 19% increase in the number of cases to major hospitals.

He said he has written to the Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea to facilitate fast clearance of foreign exchange for the purchase of TB drugs.

Dr. Liko said the expected time of arrival of the usual supply is August 10, 2023.

Papua New Guinea remains one of the highest burdened Tuberculosis (TB) countries in the world, a small yet an important gathering was told at Ela Beach.

Active City Development Program (ACDP) hosted a walk from Sir Hubert Murray Stadium to the beach, an event to raise public awareness, promote services and solutions to support men, women and children to realize how TB affects and takes lives.

One of the key messages emphasized was learning about TB signs and symptoms through tests and get treated to save lives.

The province recognises that the time has come for all government agencies from national, provincial and local level governments to take ownership and sustain the provincial TB program.

The governments of West New Britain Province admit it is everyone’s moral responsibility to control the disease now for a TB-free future.

All levels of government will stand together and demonstrate solidarity and commitment to work together towards this cause.

A newly-procured tuberculosis (TB) van with digital x-ray and computer aided diagnostic with the slogan, ‘Let’s kick TB out of PNG – ACT now’, will be inaugurated today (February 5).

This is in response to the emergency TB and multidrug-resistant TB situation in Daru, Western Province.

High level delegates of development partners will observe today’s event, which will be officiated by Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS, Sir Puka Temu.

The ceremony will be hosted at the Daru oval.

The accelerated response for TB treatment project identifies nine treatment sites and will involve community networking, volunteerism and leaders’ participation, to increase the TB treatment completion rate.

The project was recently launched.

The electorate has the highest population amongst the 3 electorates in the city, and has the highest incidence of TB prevalence rate in the city.

Businesse4Health was founded in January this year, to help workplaces be prepared to deal with TB cases.

The project recruits people from workplaces who are part of the network of subscriber businesses and train them to be workplace TB wardens.

Ann Clark, the project manager says, B4H:TB engages one on one businesses to develop a TB workplace policy and TB workplace program respective to their business house.