Involving journalists in the fight against tuberculosis

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Extract from the article: The World Health Organisation, Togo office, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (PNLT) organised on Friday 24 March 2023, a briefing for journalists on the tuberculosis (TB) situation in 2022 in Togo. The aim was to draw

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The World Health Organisation, Togo office, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (PNLT) organised on Friday 24 March 2023, a briefing for journalists on the tuberculosis (TB) situation in 2022 in Togo. The aim was to draw the attention of the media to TB, and to encourage mobilisation to urgently invest in resources for its eradication. This meeting is part of the World TB Day, celebrated every 24 March.

During this session, Prof. Séraphin Komi Adjoh, Head of the Pneumo-Phtisiology Department at the Sylanus Olympio University Hospital and Dr. Dogo Mohammed Fall, epidemiologist and Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (PNLT), informed journalists about tuberculosis, how it is transmitted, who can catch it, clinical signs and treatment, not forgetting the link between tuberculosis and HIV-AIDS. Finally, the situation of the disease in Togo was also presented.

Although efforts have been made in recent decades thanks to the support of partners, the objective of reducing the number of new cases by 20% has not yet been achieved. However, Togo, like seven other countries on the continent, has reduced the number of deaths by 35% since 2015. In Togo, 2,500 to 3,000 cases of tuberculosis are detected each year, and of these, only a small number are detected. This disease attacks the lungs preferentially, which means that the main symptom is coughing, but beyond that, it can attack other organs of the human body. Anyone can get it. But especially people with weak immune systems. HIV-positive people, diabetics, alcoholics, people suffering from malnutrition, pregnant women, children, especially young children, and the elderly are more likely to catch the disease.

This fight must be collective. Dr Dogo asked for the support of the media so that the population knows that treatment and care are free. The media men are called upon to focus on raising awareness among the population to overcome ignorance and get rid of this disease.  « We have understood that alone in hospitals and in our health centres, we cannot overcome this disease. And what we want is a collective work and we ask the media to share the good information that this disease exists, and that this disease is curable, and that in Togo, the diagnosis and treatment are free », said Mohammed Fall Dogo.

The treatment consists of tablets with biological monitoring and at the end you are declared cured after six months of daily treatment. Transmitted by droplets from sneezing, coughing or talking, TB has killed rich and poor alike. Today, the complete eradication of TB is within reach. Prevention, care and treatment are available. « Yes, we can end TB », is the theme of World TB Day 2023.

Elom AKAKPO