KUCHING: The main strategy of the Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control Programme is early detection of the disease and ensuring that treatment is given until the patient is recovered so that it will no longer spread to others, says Sarawak Health Department director Dr Ooi Choo Huck.
He said that screening of high-risk groups, especially the detection of close contacts, was one of the important strategies in the early detection of TB.
“The Health Ministry urged contacts that have been identified for TB Index cases to come forward to perform TB screening tests at nearby health facilities,” he said in his statement during the launch of World Tuberculosis Day at Klinik Kesihatan Jalan Masjid here on Friday (March 25).
“This year’s theme ‘Invest to end TB. Save Life’ means that the ministry calls for the commitment of all parties who provide health services related to TB in the country, including government and private health facilities to work together to perform screening and early treatment.
“Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spread through air circulation.
“Besides affecting lung, other organs can also get TB infection such as the brain (TB meningitis), bones (TB spine) glands (TB lymph node), intestines (TB gut) and other organs of the body.
“Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are a prolonged cough for more than two weeks, fever, night sweats, poor appetite, weight loss and haemoptysis.”
Dr Ooi reminded individuals with symptoms to undergo examination at health clinics and hospitals.
“Treatment for tuberculosis of the lungs is for six months. Tuberculosis can be cured if the patient adheres to a prescribed treatment schedule. Delay in getting treatment can lead to complications or death.”
He also revealed that in 2021, the number of TB cases reported in Sarawak was 2,234 while in Kuching alone, a total of 497 cases were reported.
