MUSCAT -- Oman plans to dramatically reduce the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) infections to 1 case per 100,000 population by 2015 in line with a strategy agreed by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states to work collectively towards eliminating the dreaded affliction.
According to a key Health Ministry official overseeing the country's anti-TB effort, this commitment towards combating the scourge will be reinforced during 'World TB Day' activities due to kick off in the Sultanate on Wednesday, March 30. Traditionally observed around the world on March 24, which coincided with the weekend holiday in Oman, 'World TB Day' is being held in lieu on Wednesday with a training workshop for healthcare personnel at the frontline of the Health Ministry's ongoing drive against TB.
"This year's activities will focus on the theme, 'On the Move Against Tuberculosis: Transforming the fight towards elimination'," said Dr Mohammed Redha Moosa al Lawati, Head of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme. "This is the first that the World Health Organization (WHO) is placing the emphasis on eliminating -- and not merely controlling -- this chronic monster, thus making this year's campaign very significant."
Since the launch of the country's anti-TB programme in 1981, the Health Ministry has made robust strides in controlling the prevalence of the tuberculosis menace, says Dr Al Lawati. "The incidence of TB has been reduced by more than 75 per cent over the past two decades, from 928 cases in 1981 -- equivalent to an incidence of 21 per 100,000 population, to 213 cases in 2010, which translates to an incidence of 4.2 per 100,000 population. The goal now before us is to bring it down to 1 per 100,000 population by 2015 as part of a GCC-wide strategy."
Sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis, which is an infectious form of the disease, now accounts for only about 40 per cent of all TB cases. "This is a good sign that the prevalence of the disease is increasingly under control. The trend is moving towards extra-pulmonary TB forms, which are not infectious. We are also beginning to see infections more in families and the elderly, which also goes to show the disease is under control."
Other occurrences of the disease, albeit in small numbers, also include afflictions of the eyes, ears, larynx, spine, kidneys, brain, and joints, the official added. A structured approach to combating tuberculosis, first adopted in 1981, has helped Oman gain the upper hand against the menace, according to Dr Al Lawati (pictured). The Health Ministry's anti-TB apparatus is led by a core central team, supplemented by dedicated staff at the regional and wilayat levels, as well as representatives at primary health centres and autonomous hospitals.
Also underpinning the success of the Ministry's anti-TB programme is its longstanding policy of extending free treatment -- inclusive of investigations, hospitalisation and medicines - to Omanis and expatriate residents alike. Significantly, migrant guest workers account for roughly one-third of all TB cases reported in the Sultanate. Infectious pulmonary TB accounts for about 75 per cent of these cases among expatriates.
Thus, the contribution of migrant labour to the incidence of the disease in the Sultanate is one of many challenges that health authorities must address as they zero in on the mid-decade deadline to slash TB's prevalence to 1 per 100,000 population. Moreover, a high incidence of TB among diabetics and smokers is another concern that can potentially come in the way of this ambitious objective.
Nevertheless, Dr Al Lawati is optimistic that the ministry has the determination and the resources to achieve this goal. Cases of multi-drug resistant TB are very few in the Sultanate, thanks in part to a strict policy regulating the dispensing of TB drugs.
Over-the-counter (OTC) sales of TB medications, coupled with erratic and non-systematic treatment, has led to an alarming rise in multi-drug resistant TB cases in many countries. Cases of Extreme Drug Resistant TB, which is resistant to both the first and second lines of defence in the treatment of the disease, are surfacing in some nations, particularly in Africa. Oman, however, has no reported cases of Extreme Drug Resistant TB, he notes.
In addition to a training workshop for frontline anti-TB staff this week, there will also symposiums for healthcare personnel in the regions, awareness campaigns targeted schoolchildren and communities, added Dr Al Lawati.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
