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TB on the decline in Guyana
Jul 13, 2014 News
Thanks to the National Tuberculosis Programme, Tuberculosis (TB) has been on a constant decline in Guyana. In fact, within the past 18 months Guyana has seen 150 fewer new cases of persons affected with TB.
This is according to Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, Head of the National Tuberculosis Programme during an interview, yesterday. He said that from January to June 2014 the programme recorded 203 new cases. During the same period last year 253 persons were diagnosed with TB disease.
This vast reduction is noticeable in the cases recorded in the prisons. During the first half of this year the programme recorded only three new cases of inmates being affected by TB in all five prisons. This is indeed the lowest number of new cases recorded in the prisons in over 10 years.
The infected inmates are in isolation from the general population and are being treated with the DOTS programme.
He attributed this achievement to the excellent screening programme which is done periodically. A central team comprising Dr. Mohanlall, Dr. Rogers and Prison’s DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) Supervisor Mrs. Gerilyn McKenzie, have been working assiduously to ensure this success rate. The team works in collaboration with the medical staff of the prisons and other TB staff in the regions.
The screening programme ensures all persons who come into contact with infected inmates and new inmates are tested and preventative therapy is provided.
The programme is not surprised by this achievement since in 2013, about 90 percent of inmates affected by TB were cured.
However, providing the care and treatment needed for inmates is challenging owing to the possibility of release from the prison system. Inmates who are found affected and have six-months and above stint in prison would be fortunate to undergo the full course of treatment.
Nonetheless, the programme does not advocate for persons to be denied their liberty.
He said that persons are also screened for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and provided with the necessary counselling and treatment.
Dr. Mohanlall, who has been with the programme for over a decade, said that in 2003 when the National Tuberculosis Programme initiated the DOTS programme in the Georgetown Prisons there were 39 new TB cases detected.
“So we had increased screening for contact, persons coughing and new inmates to ascertain an on entry evaluation. Since 2003 we have rolled out the DOTS programme to cover all the prisons. We are doing screening block by block and cell by cell,” he said.
But periodic screening was not enough and so about three years ago the National Tuberculosis Programme hired a Prisons DOTS Supervisor to supervise and monitor TB activities in prisons such as screening and investigations. The National TB programme was facing several challenges with the health authorities in the prisons not doing these important investigations promptly for the Chest Clinic team to evaluate the prisoners.
Dr. Mohanlall emphasized that the investigative aspect of the programme is important and includes three periodic tests— X-rays, sputum microscopy and mantoux tests. Prisoners who are diagnosed with TB are also given a nutritious milk supplement, to boost their systems.
Another initiative that contributes to the success of the programme is the work of the TB Control in Prisons Committee that meets three times per year. This Committee was established in March, 2006 thanks to the Pan-American Health Organization for playing an instrumental role in its establishment.
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