TB high in Colombo, estates and IDP camps

Cause: Congested houses, alcohol, drugs:

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Tuberculosis (TB) is mostly detected from Colombo, upcountry estates and IDP camps.

The main reasons for the high number of TB patients in Colombo are congested houses, consumption of alcohol, drugs and unhygienic food, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Minister Sirisena said that Sri Lanka has already achieved a significant success in TB control and the country can be a model for other countries in the region.

He thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations for the assistance towards Sri Lanka's TB Control Program.

He was addressing the inauguration of the Regional Workshop on Advocacy, Communication and Mobilization for TB Control at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo yesterday.

There are many reasons behind the success story of Sri Lanka's TB Control Program.

Two are the dedication of the health staff and awareness programs implemented by the Ministry. Doctors consider their official duty as a social service and an act of merit. This also helped control TB in Sri Lanka, the Minister said.

The workshop ends on September 17. It is organized by the WHO, UNAID and several INGOs.