NATIONAL
Opposition UPC has called upon Ugandans to carry out regular health check ups for Tuberculosis (TB) screening, testing and treatments to avoid disease spread.
“The public is also encouraged to ensure routine medical tests for TB and other diseases in case of any signs,” UPC urged
On Friday 24th March 2023, Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate Tuberculosis (TB) Day one way of raising awareness and advocate for efforts to eliminate the disease.
However, Arach Sharon Oyat, the UPC party spokesperson says that access to diagnostic testing for drug resistance to the TB bacteria in Uganda is very costly making it difficult for Ugandans to access disease screening and treatment services. She called on governments to speed up access to new, shorter, safer and more effective treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), and other screening services.
“UPC calls upon Government through her line Ministry of Health to carry out more awareness activities including free of charge camps of all TB related examinations and treatment as a supplement to government heath outlets,” she said.
Arach was speaking to journalists at the party headquarters on Wednesday (March, 29) when she said that TB patients are stigmatized by other people who say the infection is contracted by persons living with HIV.
TB remains one of the world’s leading causes of death, with an estimated 30 deaths and 223 people getting sick with TB every day in Uganda.
