World Tuberculosis Day is commemorated on March 24th every year. Our theme for 2022 is “Invest to End TB. Save Lives.”
The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization have classified Saint Lucia as a ‘Low burden Tuberculosis incidence country”. What this means is that annually, we have less than 10 cases of TB for every 100,000 persons in the population. Thisputs Saint Lucia in a very good position to aim for the elimination of TB in our country.
Our investment in the management of TB includes the following:
* Funding for fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of TB medications for the treatment of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB.
This significantly reduces the number of pillspatients have to take daily, for 6 months or more to cure pulmonary and extra-pulmonaryTB.
* Funding to improve the treatment of latent TB with the use of medication takenonceaweek for 3 months, instead of a daily regimen of multiple pills for 4 to 6 months.
* Maintenance of the GeneXpert technology donated through the Global Fundgrant, QRB-C-OECS-1037 in 2018 as well as continued procurement of testing cartridges.
* Ensuring continued support for drug resistance testing for isoniazid resistanceandculture of TB samples through the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
Eliminating or ending TB in Saint Lucia is not just about investment. This also requires personal responsibility on the part of the patients and persons who are identified as contacts of pulmonaryTBpatients. TB can be cured. It requires patients to take their medication as prescribed andfor theduration it is prescribed. Latent TB has no symptoms. If you are identified as a close contact of someone who has pulmonaryTB you are at risk for latent TB. Just saying you have no symptoms does not mean all is well.
You must be assessed by a clinician who will send you for specific tests to determine whether youhavelatent TB. Once latent TB is cured, you are not at risk for developing pulmonary TBlater, fromthat exposure. All testing and treatment for TB, latent TB, pulmonary TB and extra-pulmonary TBis freetothepatient and is covered by the state, as long as it is accessed through the available public services. The elimination of TB in Saint Lucia requires our commitment as patients to take all our medicationas prescribed and continue with follow-up care which involves regular medical checkups toensurewe have been declared TB free.
On March 24, 2022, let us all remember:
* TB still exists
* We all have the power to End TB in Saint Lucia
