The State Minister for Health, Chris Baryomonsi has cautioned Tuberclsosis patients in Uganda to endeavor to follow the prescriptions given for taking their drugs.
Baryomonsi is concerned that since TB treatment lasts for more than four months most patients tend to give up taking before prescribed doses are complete under the guise of feeling better, which leaves them at the risk of remaining with the disease and spreading it further and thus increasing the costs of treatment on the government’s part.
Since TB treatment is free at all government health facilities, Baryomonsi is now asking people to go for checkups more regularly to know their health status.
Chris Baryomunsi was speaking just a day before the world marked the Global Tuberclosis day on 24th March 2015. Uganda held the event to commemorate the day in the Northern Uganda district of Gulu.
Meanwhile the country is hosting a regional conference on health and science which has started today 25th March 2015 and will end on 28th March 21015 in Kampala.
The East African Community member states will discuss health issues geared at transforming and strengthening the sector in the region to enable it respond to threats of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases among other conditions of public health.
The conference brings together over 1000 scientists and health experts and will also focus on integrated approaches for disease prevention and control as well social determinants of health and disease conditions.
The conference will in addition document the progress registered by regional member states towards the attainment of health related millennium development goals that will facilitate sharing and documentation of best practices and innovations in the health sectors investment.
The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. Jessica Eriyo notes that the 5th annual health and scientific conference will have parallel sub conferences that will all discuss very important regional health issues.