Tuberculosis or TIBI is both preventable and curable. With a combination of vaccination, accessible healthcare, early screening and diagnosis, it is possible for a country to eliminate TB as a public health problem. However, even after significant advancements in healthcare, a third of the world's population has been exposed and is currently infected with TB. In fact globally, it is responsible for 9 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths each year. This was among the matters underscored in the message by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doktor Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health in conjunction with World TB Day.

Brunei Darussalam has been able to reduce by halve the number of new cases between the years 2000 to 2010. In recent years however progress has stalled. In 2016, 186 citizens and permanent residents in the country were newly diagnosed with TB, an increase from 162 new cases in 2015 and in the past 3 years, 13 people have died from TB. Brunei Darussalam is classified as a medium-burden TB country.

The biggest contributor to the ongoing challenges in TB control is the increase in the number of people with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) particularly diabetes mellitus. Diabetes weakens an individual's immune system and makes that person more susceptible to acquiring TB, and also reactivation of old TB infections. The rise in NCDs, along with an ageing population that are more vulnerable to TB reactivation and smoking contribute to the ongoing TB incidence in Brunei. The Ministry of Health's TB elimination strategy is not solely based on treating the acute infection but is an integrated approach that takes into accounts both social issues as well as other non-communicable diseases that increase the risk of acquiring TB. This year's theme UNITE TO END TB is especially pertinent to Brunei Darussalam. TB control cannot be seen as the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Health. Wider determinants such as socio-economic conditions, individual responsibility for health, strengthened social capital, and a multi-sectoral strategy for tackling non-communicable diseases are essential.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BRUDIRECT.COM

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