Over 2,700 Contract Tuberculosis in Greater Accra Region in 2022, Says Health Official

Over 2,700 people in the Greater Accra Region contracted tuberculosis last year, according to Mr. Isaac Opoku Asamoah, Senior Technical Officer of Regional Tuberculosis Control. Of those affected, 1,751 were men, 895 were women, and 203 were children between the ages of 0 and 14 years. The age group that was most affected was 45–54 years, with 537 recorded cases.

Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and someone else inhales the expelled droplets. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and blood in sputum, among others.

There are several ways to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, including covering one’s mouth when coughing, ensuring proper ventilation, early reporting and diagnosis, healthy eating, and vaccination, among others. Mr. Asamoah warned that TB remains a major public health threat in Ghana and the world at large. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the top ten causes of death.

It is important to raise awareness about tuberculosis and its prevention to reduce the number of cases. Proper diagnosis and treatment are also crucial to ensure that those affected receive the care they need. It is encouraging to see that efforts are being made to control the spread of tuberculosis in the Greater Accra Region, but more needs to be done to eliminate this deadly disease.