World Vision provides for TB patients
World Vision Chad offered a gift to the Ministry of Health on behalf of the 56 tuberculosis inpatients of the Ndjamena General Hospital of Reference. This was done during a colourful ceremony of the celebration of the Tuberculosis Day at the Ministry of Health compound in the General Hospital of Reference headquarters in Ndjamena.
World Vision Chad offered a gift to the Ministry of Health on behalf of the 56 tuberculosis inpatients of the Ndjamena General Hospital of Reference. This was done during a colourful ceremony of the celebration of the Tuberculosis Day at the Ministry of Health compound in the General Hospital of Reference headquarters in Ndjamena.
“World Vision is striving to make sure that its contribution towards health activities can bring change in the improvement of the health situation in the country,” said Tamissengar Ngarhogoumrabe, the World Vision national administrator, representing the National Director at the function.
“This is just a modest contribution but we believe it will relieve the 50 patients that are now in this main hospital,” he added while presenting the items to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nahor M. Ngawara, who chaired the function.
“We appreciate very much World Vision contribution in the health domain in the country. Again, let me take this opportunity to thank you for this gift that will surely relieve tuberculosis patients of this hospital for a while. The government of Chad is grateful for this donation,” the Minister Dr. Nahor replied when receiving the donation.
World Vision Chad, through the contribution of its 15 Area Development Programmes (ADP) operating in the country, has provided assistance made of 60 litres of cooking oil, 600 piece of 200 grams of soap, 60 boxes of 400 grams of powder milk and 60 blankets. This amounts to 1,255,000 CFA francs [2,553 US dollars].
According to the World Health Organization, Chad is among the countries where tuberculosis incidence is still high. It is estimated there are 299 cases for every 1000 inhabitants.
In 2011, around 35,865 tuberculosis patients are expected in theory but only 10,770 cases were notified.
“This gives only 30 per cent which means around 70 per cent of cases have escaped treatment. Even in the reality 1806 out of the 9899 cases followed has been lost, which means have not been receiving the treatment,” reads the World Health Organization document.
“This poor result is linked to the inadequate resources put in the fighting of tuberculosis, the limited numbers of specialized personnel in the area, along with the limited capacity for diagnosis, the anti-tuberculosis medicine provision, the data collection and the civil society and communities implication,” said the Minister Dr. Nahor.
The celebration of this day aims at raising awareness among all Chadians on the extent of the disease and the efforts already done by the government and its partners to control the propagation of tuberculosis in the country.
“World Vision is participating to the celebration because as an institution largely involved in HIV and AIDS prevention, it would be abnormal to watch other people fighting against tuberculosis, knowing that in Chad 23 per cent of people suffering from tuberculosis and tested for HIV infection are TB and HIV co-infected,” said Dr. Justine Nagorngar, World Vision Chad Health and HIV and AIDS National Advisor.