Rising Tuberculosis Cases in Ghana Call for Urgent Action

By: Modupe Adeniyi. Freelance Health Reporter

Ghana map. Click on image to enlarge.

THURSDAY, March 14, 2024. Ghana is facing a worrying spike in cases of tuberculosis (TB), a potentially deadly infectious disease. New data shows the country recorded 19,000 TB cases in 2023, a 15% jump from the 16,500 cases reported the previous year.

Despite these alarming figures, experts say not enough is being done to raise public awareness about the dangers of TB and the importance of prevention measures.

"I was coughing for 3 weeks with rib pains and yellow urine. I knew nothing about TB," said 25-year-old Abdulai Adamu who narrowly survived TB thanks to the help of friends. "The pains were severe and I had no one to take care of me."

Adamu, a scrap dealer who moved to Accra from a rural area highlighted the lack of knowledge about the infectious respiratory illness, especially among marginalized communities. Though no longer contagious, he still faces a long treatment regimen. "I am told I will be on it for 9 months," he said.

TB is caused by bacteria that primarily attacks the lungs. In Ghana, it accounts for over 5% of deaths annually yet the country is failing to adequately identify and treat cases, only detecting between 15,000 to 19,000 of the expected 44,000 cases each year.

A part of the problem is a shortage of GeneXpert testing machines needed to rapidly diagnose TB. "Currently, there are only 171 GeneXpert machines serving the 261 districts," said Dr. Yaw Adusi-Poku, head of Ghana's National TB Control Programme.

Furthermore, funding for critical testing supplies may soon run out unless the government increases its investment. "We are not sure about 2025 and 2026 unless help comes from the government," Adusi-Poku warned.

Health experts say Ghana's inadequate response puts lives at risk. "If you go to the facilities, a lot of the people infected are very poor. The medication makes them too weak to work, so the government needs to support them," said Abdul-Rahman Ashley, a community TB advocate.

At a recent media briefing, Samuel Hackman of the Global Fund's Ghana office urged authorities to prioritize TB control efforts. "During COVID-19, vaccine procurement happened despite the same laws,so it can be done for TB and it is only a matter of priority," he stated.

While TB mortality has slightly declined in recent years, the latest surge in cases highlights the need for urgent government action through public education, expanded testing and bolstering treatment access nationwide.

Source: 3News Ghana report, March, 2024.

Get more WHO key facts on Tuberculosis in Africa from here

Published: March 14, 2024

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