With 92 percent success, Bhutan beats the global target of Tuberculosis treatment rate of 58 percent. As Bhutan observed the World TB Day, today, with the theme, ‘Stop TB in my Life Time’, the Health Minister joined the students of College of Science and Technology in Phuentsholing to mark the Day.
Over 30 cases of Tuberculosis were reported in the College of Science and Technology in Phuentsholing in 2010 and 2011. It has now been reduced to only three cases.
Speaking at the occasion, the Health Minister, Zangley Dukpa, informed the students of the college about Tuberculosis. “Forty percent of the people in a developing country are infected with TB bacteria. But all of them develop into the disease. But the findings of the research show that 10 percent of this 40 percent of people who are infected with TB bacteria will develop disease. This is what I want you to know,” said the minister.
Lyonpo said one of the challenges faced by the ministry in treating TB patients is that, patients do not complete their courses of medicine as prescribed. TB patients usually feel better or normal after completion of the first month of treatment. Then, they discontinue their medication.
Lyonpo added, every TB patients should complete their medical courses. Reports show irregular medication leads to Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, which is more dangerous. And treating a person with Drug-Resistant TB is more costly than treating a normal TB patient.
Meanwhile, in Thimphu, the Day was observed at Kawang Gewog. About 60 people from Kawang were briefed on Tuberculosis by the health officials. A quiz competition based on TB was also organized to create awareness.
Increasing number of people with HIV infections also poses a challenge to TB control programme in the country. People with HIV infections are 37 times more likely to develop TB than those without HIV infection.
