Takoradi, March 24, – Mr. Lambert Kweku Ankomah, Western Regional Tuberculosis (TB) Coordinator, has emphasized the need for collaborative action among government, health officials, and communities to stop TB transmission across the country.
Speaking on World TB Day, Mr. Ankomah said strong governmental leadership combined with community engagement, advocacy, and awareness campaigns could make ending TB achievable.
He revealed that the Western Region recorded approximately 2,723 TB cases in 2025, with 2,669 patients registered for treatment. Of these, 2,646 were successfully treated, reflecting a treatment success rate of 99.1%, while 15 people (0.6%) died from the disease.
Mr. Ankomah highlighted that many cases remain undetected in communities, which contributes to continued transmission. He cited risk factors such as illegal mining (galamsey), malnutrition, smoking, alcohol use, and overcrowding.
To combat TB, the Regional Health Directorate has implemented interventions including intensified case finding at outpatient departments (OPDs) and linkage of all health facilities to 17 diagnostic centers across 14 districts for timely results and early treatment.
Periodic community screenings in high-risk areas, counseling and testing of contacts of confirmed TB patients, and TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) for those testing negative were among other measures introduced, he added.
Addressing misconceptions, Mr. Ankomah urged the public to understand that TB is curable and stressed that abandoning treatment due to myths undermines control efforts.
He encouraged anyone showing symptoms such as persistent cough, weight loss, chest pain, fever, or coughing blood to visit the nearest health facility for screening, diagnosis, and early treatment.
The coordinator also called for compassion rather than stigma towards TB patients, underlining that community support is vital to halting the disease.
World TB Day, observed annually on March 24, aims to increase public awareness of TB’s health, social, and economic impact and to strengthen efforts to end the pandemic. The 2026 theme is: “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Countries, Powered by People.”
GHBUSS
March 24, 2026
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