28 Jun 2017

Senior registered nurse, Mr Ofentse Khanga has called  individuals who have had close contact or spent a lot of time close to someone with a tuberculosis (TB) patient to visit the nearest clinic for screening.

Mr Khanga said this at a TB Adherence Day, organised by Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Prevention Programme (BOCAIP) at Moiyabana Kgotla recently.

He said due to their work load, together with lack of transport, their office was unable to reach out and make follow-ups on the families of TB patients as desired.

Mr Khanga noted that contact tracing was an important intervention, which was made to identify TB cases and interrupt TB transmission in the community.

He said when a new case of positive TB patient had been diagnosed, it was important that the TB focal person at the health facility identified all close contacts.

“Where adequate resources exist and when most TB cases are being successfully treated, contact tracing of people who have been exposed to TB is important.

Although contact can be a resource intensive process, a common approach is to focus on those most at risk of contracting TB and prevents further cases of TB,” he said.

He added that it was crucial that all contacts were screened for the signs and symptoms of TB and if positive, evaluated with sputum smear microscopy.

Mr Khanga encouraged all present to test, especially those who were aware of the sign, or suspected that they have contracted it.

“Transmission of TB is human to human, when a person with TB coughs, talks or sneezes they expel tiny airborne particles containing TB bacilli called droplet nuclei.

The  bacilli are rapidly destroyed by exposure to sunlight and their concentration in air is reduced by good ventilation,” he said.

He urged residents to always open windows at their homes and in their cars while travelling.

“With poor ventilation droplets can remain suspended in the air for several hours. If another person inhales these droplets some bacilli may reach the alveoli, where they are ingested by macrophages,” he said.

Mr Khanga said as TB was mostly associated with HIV, saying it was important that after testing for TB, people should also test for HIV.

“If you are living with HIV, it means you are more likely to develop TB because of a weak immune system, however, you can reduce the risk by taking your HIV treatment properly to strengthen your immune system,” he said.

For her part, TB survivor, Ms Nke Kekaletswe  of Moiyabana said she was the living example that TB was curable.

She spoke of her ordeal before she was tested and enrolled on the treatment.

She however brought hope when she explained that all the signs of TB including coughing stopped just after she began taking the treatment.

She encouraged all to first accept themselves, be accepted by their families and make sure that they adhere to the treatment.

On the other hand, while presenting an overview of BOCAIP, Serowe BOCAIP centre supervisor, Ms Refilwe Tereki said BOCAIP was a national level faith-based organisation, which was aimed at responding to the HIV/AIDS challenges in Botswana from a Christian perspective.

She however said even though they were a Christian movement, it did not mean that they only assisted Christians, adding that their services were extended to all.

“We have brought our TB and HIV testing to your doorstep. I therefore encourage you to take advantage of these services as they do not come all the time,” she said. ENDS