NWP PC fights TB

S. M. Wjiayaratne Kurunegala Daily News corr.

Measures have been taken to eliminate the spread of Tuberculosis in the Kurunegala District by the NWP-PC Health Ministry as nearly 530 TB positive patients have been detected last year.

About 521 TB patients were detected from the Kurunegala District in 2008. Despite all medicines and other sanitary facilities being available in Government hospitals, the disease could not be wiped out from the Kurunegala district,” said Bowatta Government Hospital Asst. DMO Dr. D.M.A. Silva, addressing a conference on Tuberculosis for PHIs and Family Health Nurses of the Bingiriya electorate held recently at Bingiriya District Hospital.

He said TB is spreading fast in developing countries in the world and poverty has been the main cause for this. Of the world population at least 2,000,000 people die of TB annually.

However, the Health Services Ministry has now taken steps to educate school community on preventive measures against TB and 426 awareness programs have been arranged during this year in both Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts.

“Rs 5.6 million has been set aside by the government to offer positive patients as public allowances this year and schoolchildren all over the island will be educated thoroughly to put an end to this,” he said.