The ministry of health will soon secure twenty-one X-ray machines to facilitate the testing of tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases.

Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health made the announcement.

He noted that Uganda records an average of 90,000 TB patients per year and most of them are from the West Nile region.

Uganda is among the 30 countries in the world with a high Tuberculosis burden. This highly infectious disease (graphics) mainly afflicts the lungs and can destroy up to 80% of the lungs.

The Ministry of Health reports that (graphics) approximately 30 people in Uganda die of TB daily, and the majority are people living with HIV/AIDS.

Tuberculosis (graphics) spreads through coughing, and sand neezing, and about 70% of the patients tend not to complete the six-month dose, thereby exposing them to multi-drug resistant TB.  

Some of the TB symptoms include: 

• Cough for two or more weeks
• Prolonged fevers for more than two weeks
• Excessive night sweats
• Coughing blood
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chest pain
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
• And Poor weight gain among children

The health ministry has a program to trace TB patients through community engagements, and the mob and file Clinics among other interventions. The ministry also plans to acquire twetwenty-oneray machines to help in the examination of TB.

In addition, the ministry of health has introduced preventive treatment for highlight-repopulation, including majorly carcaretakersIV patients, among others.

The effort to bring down the high TB burden has come with its challenges, including stigma and patients not completing their drug dozes. The ministry is calling for support to bring this to an end.

Uganda is set to join the rest of the world to commemorate world TB day on 24th March 2023. PBeforethis, the health ministry will conduct community outreaches for diagnosis and treatment.

TB can be prevented by: 

• Immunizing children at birth
• Early testing and treatment
• Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• A good number of windows on the house to allow proper ventilation
• Avoid crowded places.

Meanwhile, the ministry of health will also screen for Leprosy in the community with the disease reportedly on the rise.

Leprosy cases increased from 121 in 2017 to 581 in 2022. Last year Leprosy cases were reported in 52 districts with 12% of cases being children.