The HEALTH : April 2020 | Page 27

april, 2020 | The healTh | Issue | Eradicating tuberculosis by 2035 in the run to achieve zero TB cases, Malaysians must go for screening tests for early detection Tuberculosis (MAPTB) had done a great job in preventing and treating TB in Malaysia. “The government has placed funds for hospitals to carry out treatment for TB. On top of that, the MAPTB fought for our TB patients to get allowances because TB treatment is costly and most of our patients are poor,” said Dr Wong. The World TB Day campaign every year was also one of the government’s eff ort in bringing awareness to Malaysians. He stressed: “The problem only arises when the high-risk group of people refuse to turn up for the early screening session.” The Tuberculosis Control Programme has been in place since 1961 as a vertical programme where PusatTibi Negara is the primary referral centre for TB. This year, World TB Day is still wearing the suit of ‘It’s Time To End TB’. This National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Control (2016-2020) is in line with the Regional Framework for Action on Implementation of the End TB Strategy in the Western Pacifi c (2016–2020). The NSP shall be the national guiding principles in control of TB towards placing Malaysia as a zero number of TB cases by 2035. The goal line of TB control in Malaysia is to decrease a load of tuberculosis by BY CAMILIA REZALI T HE early screening of Tuberculosis (TB) among Malaysians can assist the government’s target of eliminating the disease by 2035. Dr Wong Chee Kuan, a Consultant Chest Physician at Universiti Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC), said the main contribution to a large number of TB deaths was a lack of awareness and delays in screening. “Malaysia has not even reached the maximum detection rate. Therefore, people who are infected could still be wandering around without notice”, said Dr Wong. A TB-infected person can be without any visible signs. That is how dangerous it is. According to Dr Wong, Malaysia is in the intermediate TB incidence rate. Malaysians contribute a high 85 per cent of the TB cases. TB has been increasing for the past 10 years in Malaysia. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, the TB occurrence rate in Malaysia has now risen to 92 per 100,000 population. TB is the number one killer among infectious diseases. What most people do not know is that TB happens to be a growing disease. Up to 2,000 lives a year are lost to this disease. People who are prone to infection are those with a low level of immunity such as the elderly, smokers, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, liver and kidney patients as well as HIV patients. It is also possible for a person cured of TB to be infected again. Dr Wong said the government and the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Target indicators 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Reduction of 25% in the number of TB deaths compared with 2015 (reduced 5% per year)* 1692 1600 1520 1445 1375 1310 79 85 90 95 100 100 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Increase in the incidence rate of TB to 100 per 100,000 population compared with 79 per 100,000 population in 2015 (per 100,000 population)* TB-aff ected families facing catastrophic costs due to TB Malaysia has not even reached the maximum detection rate. Therefore, people who are infected could still be wandering around without notice." — Dr Wong Chee Kuan ensuring universal access to timely and quality diagnosis and treatment of all forms of TB and prevent the development of drug resistance to TB in the country. By 2020, TB control aims to reduce the TB mortality rate by 25 per cent, to increase the notifi cation rate to 100 per 100,000 population and also have full access to diagnosis and treatment of all forms of TB, including MDR-TB and XDR-TB. The NSP intends to put an end to TB in the next fi ve years. The table shows the target indicators for this year. To achieve these numbers, it requires mutual collaboration, not only in delivering suitable TB services but also tracking universal access to health care and social protection while rapidly improving nutrition and economic conditions. To this eff ect, the dismissal of catastrophic costs that TB-aff ected families face is also an essential target under The End TB Strategy. The NSP is committed to putting a stop to TB cases in Malaysia. Its strategic pillar starts with integrating patient-centred care and prevention. Secondly, to establish bold policies and supportive systems and thirdly, to intensify the number of research and innovations on TB. — The Health 27