He said the Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) has been on the radar for quite some time in the Ministry and it was only now they took it very serious, adding that for the hospital to admit 47 patients is a very big improvement because these people would have been in their communities and continue to infect others.
Dr. Kargbo encouraged the health workers to go on the search, do active case searchto ensure that they have a lot of TB patients come out for treatment to reduce the spread of disease in the country.
He pointed out that bringing out the discharged patient’s relatives and counsel them is to ensure that patients continue to take their drugs at home with no relax because if they stop taking their treatment, it will be a catatrophy for them.
The Chief Medical Officer stated that as a Ministry, there role is to ensure that they improve the health outcome of the people of Sierra Leone through efficient and effective health care system and commended patients for their courage and patience in going through the treatment.
The Programme Manager, National TB/ Leprosy Programme, Dr. Lynda Foray described the event as a good day for the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the government of Sierra Leone as currently they have 46 patients with strong Tuberculosis diseases and that they are discharging the first ten patients.
She said the general rule for a suspected case is when someone cough for more than two weeks, to report to the hospital for TB test, adding that the government has a new and improved technology that within two hours the result will be out to know the status.
Dr. Foray in formed the gathering that patients detected with TB came to the hospital with hesitant and were reassured of their well-being and today they are discharging because they are strong and well. She added that the discharged was the beginning of a series of discharged because patients spent four months receiving treatment, adding that when they returned home, health workers will fellow and monitored them to ensure they get five more treatment before they are properly well.
The Medical Officer, University of Sierra Leone, Lakka Teaching Hospital Complex, Dr. Mugisha Jacob said they started admitting patients for MDR back in 2016 and treatment was made available in April 2017 when the index patient started treatment, stating that since then they have admitted over 57 patients and a good number are responding to treatment.
He said out of those admitted, they have a total of 14 patients who fits the criteria for going home, but of those, four needs socio results which would not allow them to be discharged, adding that ten will be discharged as their first success in the hospital.
