BY: MOHAMED SAHR (Mohamedsahrpro@Gmail.Com)
In redoubling efforts to combating tuberculosis as a concern for Sierra Leone’s health system, Minister of Health has sought global commitment and innovative means to end tuberculosis during his speech on the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday 22nd September 2023 in New York.
Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health said Sierra Leone needed urgent attention from international partners to take action in the fight against tuberculosis; adding that there could be no better time than now for a stronger political will and national and international commitment to defeat such a global menace.
He furthered that out of the 30 high Tuberculosis burden countries, eight of these countries happened to be in West Africa and Sierra Leone remained part of the red flag nations. “We must redouble our efforts and I’m finding innovation and sustainable solutions to this challenge,” Dr. Demby said.
He mentioned that the government of His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio has devoted strength to deal with Tuberculosis and other underlying diseases. Dr. Demby said some of the efforts of President Bio stood from the adoption and expansion of the use of GeneXpert as first line TB diagnostic equipment, which focused on better sensitivity to diagnose TB and identify resistance to one of the core anti-TB drugs; as well as the establishment of two more TB treatment centres within Sierra Leone.
Dr. Demby said with support from the Government, the Ministry of Health recently capacitated staff to examine MDR -TB from the establishment of MDR-TB management in addition to national TB referral hospital.
He revealed that Sierra Leone was the first to programmatically roll out the newly recommended BPaL/BPaLM regimen to ensure shorter and safe DRTB treatment for all patients.
He added that with support from partners, mortality decreased from 75 per 100.00 in 2000 and 31 per 100,000 in 2021. “The treatment coverage for DSTB is at 77% with a 91% treatment success rate in 2022,” Minister Health said.
He said TB could be framed as a disease of poverty, housing insecurity, stigmatization and other social inequalities. Dr. Demby concluded by affirming that the government`s commitment to end tuberculosis as a global health risk.
