WTD 2024: raising awareness and active screening, formidable weapons against tuberculosis

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Extract from the article: Every year on 24 March, the international community celebrates World TB Day (WTD). It is a day dedicated to raising public awareness of the harmful effects of the disease. It is also an opportunity to mobilise efforts and pool energies with a view to

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Every year on 24 March, the international community celebrates World TB Day (WTD). It is a day dedicated to raising public awareness of the harmful effects of the disease. It is also an opportunity to mobilise efforts and pool energies with a view to putting an end to tuberculosis by 2035, in line with the international community's commitments. Togo was not left out of the celebrations. To this end, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (PNLT), with the support of the WHO, organised a one-day awareness campaign in the Zio health district, coupled with active screening of suspected cases of tuberculosis, from 25 March to 27 March 2024, at the USP Gbatopé, the CMS Djagblé (Gbamakopé) and the CMS Davié respectively.

The people of Gbatopé, Djagblé and Davié were given general information about tuberculosis, how the disease is transmitted and how to diagnose and treat it. Public and private healthcare providers were also given further training on the disease, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the challenges Togo faces in putting an end to tuberculosis.

The theme of this year's celebrations is « Yes, we can put an end to tuberculosis ».The theme of this year's celebrations is "Yes, we can put an end to tuberculosis", and the various stakeholders have been urged to work together to halt the spread of this disease, which remains one of the world's biggest killers. To this end, communities were urged to refer cough victims early to health facilities for rapid diagnosis, and to provide patients with moral and psychological support during treatment, while avoiding discrimination.

During this activity, 78 sputum samples were collected from people suspected of having TB, and 2 cases of TB were detected.This activity was greatly appreciated by the health authorities in the areas visited, who said that they had benefited from it to improve the knowledge of the populations in their health areas about the fight against tuberculosis. They hoped that these initiatives would be organised on a regular basis.The awareness session was led by the District Focal Points (TB, IEC), supported by the Director of the Zio Health Prefecture and the NTP team. Around 50 people in the crowd were reached by the awareness campaign at the three sites. Awareness-raising and screening are weapons in the fight against tuberculosis, as they made it possible to detect 2 cases of tuberculosis, which would have remained undetected had it not been for the awareness-raising session. Those who tested positive were immediately put on treatment. The aim was to cut the chain of infection in the areas visited, and motivate others to go to the health centres if they have a cough. The session also gave people the opportunity to find out more about tuberculosis through questionnaires.  There were also testimonials from cured patients.

Tuberculosis continues to be endemic in Togo.According to the activity reports of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, 3,133 cases of all forms of tuberculosis were detected in Togo in 2022, compared with 3,147 cases of all forms of tuberculosis detected in 2023.

Source : PNLT