Ghanaian officials urge media to contribute to tuberculosis awareness

Mar 23 2009

The media should contribute to addressing tuberculosis in Ghana by disseminating information about TB transmission and encouraging the public to attend screenings, Frank Bonsu, program manager for the country's National Tuberculosis Control Program, said recently, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation reports. Bonsu spoke during a one-day TB advocacy workshop for media at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.

During the workshop, Bonsu called on the media to conduct TB research and increase efforts to report about the disease and its effects. Felix Kwami Afutu, program officer for monitoring and evaluation at the national TB program, said the agency aims to encourage community-based TB care through advocacy, communication and social mobilization. According to Afutu, the TB program also has recruited local leaders for an education program to address stigma associated with TB. Afutu also called for accurate record keeping to ensure the program's success.

According to Bonsu, about 200 to 300 out of every 100,000 people in Ghana contract TB. Afutu noted that the country will commemorate World TB Day on March 24 (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, 3/19).