Proactively cut off the source of tuberculosis transmission in the community

(QBĐT) - The province currently has nearly 40% of tuberculosis patients in the community who have not been detected, managed and treated. With the goal of ending tuberculosis by 2030, tuberculosis prevention and control work must be more proactive in order to cut off the source of infection in the community.

Targeting priority audiences

At the end of December 2024, the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) coordinated with district health centers, commune health stations, and Border Guard stations located in the area to organize a screening for tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis in 9 border communes in Le Thuy, Quang Ninh, Bo Trach, Minh Hoa, and Tuyen Hoa districts.

In these areas, the majority of ethnic minorities live, with migration customs; tuberculosis epidemics in the community are still high; people have little access to medical services. Quang Binh is one of 6 provinces in the country that is prioritized to implement screening for tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis in the community areas of border communes under the National Tuberculosis Control Program (CTCLQG). This is a favorable condition for proactively detecting early and receiving treatment for tuberculosis cases in this area.

Actively detect tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis in border areas to cut off the source of infection in the community.

With the close coordination of the grassroots medical staff, the Border Guard and good propaganda and mobilization work, the rate of people coming for examination is very high. Master Tran Cong Thanh, Deputy Head of the Department of Examination, Treatment of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases and Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, Provincial CDC said: During the recent mobile examination in the border area, 5,764 people came for examination. People were examined, had X-rays, and Mantoux tests to detect latent tuberculosis; Expert samples were taken for 100% of people with abnormal chest X-ray results suspected of tuberculosis. At the end of the session, 33 tuberculosis patients were detected and admitted for treatment; 171 people were found to have latent tuberculosis, of which 140 were treated.

The medical team has integrated propaganda and raised awareness for the community. People have realized the importance of proactively examining and detecting tuberculosis, protecting their own health and that of their families. Ms. Nguyen Thi Chau, village 4, Thanh Hoa commune (Tuyen Hoa) said: “I have had a long-term cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Hearing the propaganda information about tuberculosis, I was also worried but did not have the conditions to go for a check-up. Just when a group of doctors came to the village to examine, I registered for a check-up for peace of mind.”

Integrate propaganda and raise community awareness of tuberculosis at mobile examination points.

Not only is it proactive in detecting tuberculosis early in the community, organizing mobile examinations once again affirms the humane policies of the Party, State, and the health sector towards people in border areas. “Khe Cat village has had two teams of doctors come to examine tuberculosis on-site. We have promoted and called on the villagers and in the last session, 370 people of the right age came to be examined. Thank you to the Party and State for paying great attention to the people”, Mr. Ho Dai, Head of Khe Cat village, Truong Son commune (Quang Ninh) shared.

Difficulty in detection, management and treatment

In recent years, the work of preventing and controlling tuberculosis and lung diseases has been carried out actively and effectively. In 2024, the whole province detected and treated 867 patients with various forms of tuberculosis with a successful treatment rate of over 98%. However, the work of preventing and controlling tuberculosis in Quang Binh still faces many difficulties and obstacles.

In 2024, the whole province detected and treated 867 patients with tuberculosis of all types.

According to the National Tuberculosis Control Program's estimate, the new case rate in Quang Binh is about 176 cases per 100,000 people, equivalent to 1,594 cases per year. However, on average, each year, the whole province only detects and treats about 800-1,000 patients with all forms of tuberculosis, reaching about 62.7% of estimated tuberculosis cases. Thus, there are still about 40% of tuberculosis patients in the community who have not been detected, managed and treated. This is a huge source of infection, so the workload of those working in tuberculosis prevention and control is still very difficult.

“2024 is the third year that the provincial CDC has implemented activities to proactively detect tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis in border communities. The results of the examinations have provided a preliminary assessment of the tuberculosis epidemic situation in the border community. The number of tuberculosis patients detected in this area accounts for 20-24% of the total number of tuberculosis patients in the province over the years, proving that the epidemic here is still very high compared to the plain area. Timely detection, management and treatment to cut off the source of infection for the community early, contributes significantly to the province's goal of ending tuberculosis,” affirmed Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

Meanwhile, the coordination between the grassroots health sector and private clinics in the prevention, treatment and management of tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis lung diseases is not yet synchronous and effective. Quang Binh is one of 12 provinces in the country that does not have a specialized hospital for tuberculosis and lung diseases. The province's medical staff specializing in tuberculosis and lung diseases is insufficient compared to the demand.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, in order to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and control, in the coming time, it is necessary to maintain the activities of proactively detecting tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis to reduce the annual incidence of tuberculosis. On the other hand, there needs to be a strong commitment to investment from the government; the participation of all levels, sectors, and organizations; the goal of ending tuberculosis is included in the resolutions of Party committees at all levels... At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the role of grassroots health care; pay attention to training human resources, have preferential policies for officials working in tuberculosis prevention and control; provide equipment for early detection of sources of infection at the grassroots level; strengthen monitoring and treatment monitoring of tuberculosis patients, ensuring that no patients abandon treatment; promote communication work;...

People in border communes in the province are screened for tuberculosis.

With the goal of ending tuberculosis by 2030, the health sector and the provincial CDC - the focal point for implementing the activities of the National TB Program in Quang Binh need to make more efforts, be more active and persistent to successfully "reach the finish line".

Huong Le

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/suc-khoe/202503/chu-dong-cat-dut-nguon-lay-benh-lao-trong-cong-dong-2225148/