#March4TB. #coveryourcough. #InvestToEndTB #EndTB World TB Day was established to mark the discovery in 1882, of the bacteria that causes Tuberculosis. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Over 100 years later, there are drugs to cure TB and better diagnostic services. However worldwide, TB still kills over 4,100 people every day. Here in the NCD we still have some of the worst rates of TB in the world. After two years of a global COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating World TB is an even more important occasion. COVID has disrupted our progress to End TB. · Measures to reduce the burden of COVID-19 have reversed years of progress in our fight to reduce sickness and death from TB. · COVID disruptions mean TB case notifications were reduced in 2020 and 2021 as compared to 2019. World TB Day is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the size of the TB problem in PNG, and refocus our efforts on achieving PNG’s goal to end TB. The theme for World TB Day 2022 “INVEST TO END TB. SAVE LIVES” We need everyone to invest time, money and energy to reduce PNG’s terrible TB burden We need to invest in TB, because it is PNG’s deadliest infectious disease. · About 40,000 people in PNG were sick with TB last year · A quarter of them are children · A majority people sick with TB are of working age · Over 4000 people died last year from TB last year · About 1000 of them were here in the NCD On World TB Day with our colleagues from NCD PHA we celebrate our successful TB treatment of 40,000 of people in PNG last year. Our TB clinics, family screening programs, childhood vaccination, prevention therapy and campaigns like #coveryourcough have prevented more cases of TB. Thank you! The TB problem is huge worldwide and in the NCD. · Worldwide 1.5 million people died of TB and 10 million were sick with TB last year. · PNG, is one the 30 highest TB affected countries in the world. However, most countries do not have a TB problem. · Only 30 countries account for nearly all TB deaths and TB sickness across the world. PNG can get out of this terrible club! · TB treatment success rates can improve. The current treatment success rate is 71%. · With your investment in TB education and support this rate can be 100%. It will save lives and reduce the rising rate of drug resistant TB · NCD is the focal point of PNG’s TB crisis COVID means double trouble. The National Capital District is the province with highest burden of TB in the country and the majority of COVID-19 cases have also been reported in NCD. Of all the COVID cases in PNG, a quarter of them were in the NCD · Of the 38,222 confirmed COVID-19 cases in PNG, 27% (10,339) of cases were in NCD. · For TB the NCD registered a 14% (972 case) decrease in TB case notifications in 2020, from 6,819 in 2019 to 5,849 cases in 2020 and the reduction is even more in 2021. This is attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns and interruptions in service availability. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to help Invest to end TB, individually, and as a nation. · invest your money, time and effort in helping people with TB to get tested and treated. · raise awareness about TB in your communities, workplaces, schools and homes. B4H has a song to learn to raise awareness with a great tune to go with it! - · Every one of us can teach people that TB is treatable and curable, but TB is a killer disease if neglected. TB signs and symptoms · coughing for more than two weeks, · coughing up blood, · weight loss, · night sweats or · shortness of breath We need help to support people to get into NCD TB services. The staff are excellent! Free TB testing is at: Gerehu Hospital, Kaugere, Gordon’s near the police station, Tokarara, Badili, Lawes Road clinic, 6-mile clinic, St Therese’s Hohola, 9mile clinics, 3mile JBK clinic, Pari. TB is not normal. Coughing is not normal. Dying of TB is not acceptable. PNG’s rates of TB place an enormous burden on families, workplaces and hospitals. TB has been eliminated from most of countries and PNG can do the same if we all work together and invest in TB to save lives. With your time and effort, we can look forward to a healthier NCD and a healthier and wealthier PNG. Em Tasol #coveryourcough Background PNG, one of the 30 high TB and MDR-TB burden countries in the world. The estimated incidence of TB was 441 per 100,000 populations in 2020, which is one of the highest globally and in the Western Pacific Region. TB treatment success rate stands at 71% in 2020. TB is a leading cause of death in PNG and PNG’s deadliest infectious disease. Current COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted delivery of TB services in Papua New Guinea. TB case notifications have been reduced by 8% in 2020 and 21% in 2021 as compared to 2019.There are 40,000 people sick, 4000 die, a quarter are children, most are of working age. The National Capital District is the province with highest burden of TB in the country and the majority of COVID-19 cases have been reported in NCD. As of 6 February 2022, there were 38,222 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country and 27% (10,339) of cases were in NCD. The NCD registered a 14% (972 case) decrease in case notifications in 2020, from 6,819 in 2019 to 5,849 cases in 2020 and the reduction is even more in 2021. This is attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns and interruptions in service availability.