Dr Jasper Nidoi, a researcher at Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI), explains that according to research, TB is more prevalent in men than women due to risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, places of work and poor health-seeking behaviors.
Dr Jasper Nidoi a researcher at Makerere University Lung Institute (in middle) speaking to DR Charles Olaro and Minister Lilian Aber at visit to thier stall during TB Day held at Nakasongola RC Primary school
Health experts and researchers have called for the involvement of men if the Country aims to end the deadly
Tuberculosis disease.
On Tuesday, Uganda joined the rest of the world in marking
World Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Day.
According to the Ministry of Health, at least 24 persons die every
day from TB and the country registers atleast 96,000 new TB cases each year.
Atleast 263 people fall ill daily, and health systems do not identify 20%.
Uganda, in line with the WHO End TB Strategy, aims
to eliminate tuberculosis as a public health threat by 2030, focusing on
increased case detection, treatment adherence, and reducing transmission rates,
with ongoing support from the Global Fund.
But researchers, experts and health advocates say that without the motivation of men to access TB services, this may not be achieved.
Dr Jasper Nidoi, a researcher at Makerere University Lung Institute
(MLI), explains that according to research, TB is more prevalent in men than women due to risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, places of
work and poor health-seeking behaviors.
Nidoi added that the men also view the health care services
as more friendly to females than to them.
She said that due to such an attitude, several men with signs of
TB don’t seek health services, which has encouraged the spread of the infection.
As a result, Nidoi said that Makerere University Lung Institute under the LIGHT Consortium piloted a study at Gombe and Mityana hospitals, where they introduced male-friendly services integrating TB screening and other services.
In the project, health workers were trained to screen every
man for TB who visits the hospital and encourage them to interact with male champions
in the male-friendly corners to know more about the disease.
It was discovered that through the interventions, more cases
of TB were detected in men and this helped them to seek treatment services,
hence reducing transmission.
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Luganda Byte
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Dr Beate Ringwald, a lecturer at Liverpool School of Tropical
Medicine and Makerere University Lung Institute, said that it's important to
design services that attract men to improve uptake of care services if TB is to be
eliminated.
Ringwald said that to bring services to men, in countries
like Kenya, TB services have been brought to workplaces through partnerships
with health centers and this has improved access.
“Another example is from
Nigeria, where we worked with community and cultural leaders who used song and drama to reduce stigma
in their community and to encourage people to seek care as well as screening services. That worked very well in reducing stigma over a very
short period of just six months and increasing awareness of tuberculosis in the
community, so we think there are many ways we can support men to seek to get the
care they deserve,” Ringwald said.
Ringwald said that Uganda needs to embrace such strategies to attract men to seek TB services if they are to achieve the target of
ending the disease.
Dr Agaba Byamukama, the Nakasongola District Health Officer,
said that men, especially in Nakasongola who are fishermen, are at great risk of
contracting HIV/AIDS, hence need to draw strategies and create awareness among them to screen and
seek treatment.
Dr Rodrigo Nyinoburyo, an expert in infectious diseases,
particularly Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, said that although the first TB drug was
discovered in the 1940s, decades later, the disease is yet to be eliminated due to
gaps that exist in community engagement, which need to be addressed.
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While marking World TB Day, the researchers and health
advocates called for male-tailored services to end TB.
While representing the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at
the World TB Day held on Tuesday in Nakasongola town, Lilian Aber, the Minister of State for
Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, reiterated the government's
commitment to support TB treatment services and the health sector to ensure its end the
disease.
Nabbanja also asked men to avoid risks that expose them to TB infection and encouraged patients to embrace good nutrition to supplement treatment.
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The theme for this year’s World TB Day is "Yes! We Can
End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver," a rallying cry urging for urgency,
accountability, and hope in the fight against TB.
