Minister of Health, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has said that Dominica has the lowest incident rate of Tuberculosis (TB) in the Caribbean at 9.8 per 100,000 people.
He said that notwithstanding, the government and medical professionals remain vigilant in combatting the disease.
“Worldwide, 9.8-million people fell ill with TB, resulting in 1.5-million deaths in 2014, and was the leading cause of death in HIV patients in 2015,” he said as Dominica joins the rest of the world in observing World Tuberculosis Day on Thursday. “The incident rate of TB in Dominica 9.8 per 100,000 people, is the lowest among Caribbean islands. But, despite this low rate, we will continue our efforts to find and treat latent TB infection and TB disease.”
The Minister went on to outline the ways in which the government is ensuring that all persons who have TB, or are suspected to have the disease are treated promptly and freely. Medical professionals were commended for their efforts in the tracking and treatment of TB cases.
“One key element in reaching the unreached is improving access to quality care. The government of Dominica embraces the concept of universal health coverage, as it has a direct impact on the health of the population, and is a critical component of sustainable development. In Dominica, we continue to ensure that patients who require further testing are tested, and have received free treatment,” he noted. “Whilst we have had a few challenging cases, such as those with slow response to treatment, and social issues, I must take this opportunity to commend our doctors and nurses for their tireless efforts in finding cases in the communities, as well as providing them with treatment and support.”
At the national level, Darroux commented that the government will “continue to ensure effective delivery of best practices, which includes prevention, diagnosing and treating, not only patients with TB and/or TB/HIV, but the families affected with challenges of these diseases.”
He stressed that the “effort to prevent the spread of TB and HIV is of paramount importance,” and urged Dominicans to seek medical treatment early and encourage others to seek medical care for suspected cases of TB.
Darroux warned against stigmatization and discrimination against people who are infected or are suspected of being infected with TB or TB/HIV, and enlisted the cooperation of the public in the fight against the disease.
“The path to end TB is not easy. We need cooperation from each and every one of you in civil society… we will continue to place focus on increasing them with knowledge on their rights, as it pertains to people living with TB and TB/HIV. In Dominica, we endorse the theme of ‘Unite to End TB’…” Darroux noted.
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis that most often affects the lung, although it can affect other organs of the body, in rarer cases.
The condition may be transmitted from an infected person through the air. When a lung-infected TB patient coughs, sneezes, or spits, the TB germs are propelled into the air. An individual needs only to inhale a few of these germs to become infected.
what is this news about…. in the 1980’s dominica did not have any cases of TB…. mr minister are you trying to give us some news in a subtle way
one can understand if there are unknown isolated case, but for a small island with so little people the minister should never come and expose that on the news rather his goal should be to eradicate the disease not to look for lowest ranking place . Shame on you after 16 years ?
Well, that’s something at least.
We don’t have 100,000 people here!!!
Same point I was going to raise. Thank you
From what I know, lack of proper nutrition is the original cause of TB. Generally babies are susceptible to it including, youths and adults who are poor.
Negligence could also be a factor and not necessarily poverty.
Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, the district health nurse or other authority should educate the people accordingly.
Today, the poor in Dominica are better off than the poor of bygone years. The government provides financial assistance for those who are in need of. Those who are recipients should ensure that they concentrate on purchasing nutritional necessities. The authorities should also advise them about this important factor of eating and drinking nutritiously.
Bro I don’t know what you talking about because to me it makes no sense. Here is what I want to talk about, since back in 2011, Dominica, along with Antigua PM, and others, prepared a special luncheon for UN Ban Ki-Moon. Let[‘s talk about that because these days Francisco Lorenzo talking about all secret deals. Here is a favorite quote:
“Alongside with South-South News and the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, the luncheon was also supported by the governments of Tajikistan, El Salvador, Kenya, Bangladesh, Fiji, Dominica, Zambia, Rwanda and Nigeria as well…”
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-nations-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-honored-for-leadership-in-women-and-childrens-health-131833353.html
but we doh have much ppl on the island..but we have zik zik
prove it.
And your point sir ( we have the lowest rate in everything in the world ) so whats your point . GOSH
lol… i got a laught off that one… so damn true
! Doc Minister!
Es la verdad relative no es absoluta. todo es relative mas con una populacion tan Chiquita. no estoy hablando dela compania de Platanos. LMAO
pregunta a Dr.Ricketts
Why? How many hours it takes to moderate30 words in a short posted @ 7;30 AM-0325-2016?
in addition. 9.8%/ 100,000 if DA has less than 75000 people then there are less than7.35 persons with TB in DA?
STATS tell lies. If a GUEST boat does DA TO PORTSMOUTH ENGLAND in 8 days will 8 boats take 1 day?
Lies and more lies.Didn’t the Labour Party government tell us that the country was ready for the Ebola virus, even when no vaccine had been developed yet.Also every time they announce that the new hospital for Goodwill is due to commence,yet to no avail. If CAREC or some other independent and respectable organization had given us this news,then I would believe it,but not when this inept government says so.
That is a good performance by any standard. However, I would like to ask Dr. Darroux which database he used for arriving at this figure because the World Bank reports an even better figure for Dominica for 2014 0f 1.0. Only Bermuda with 0.0 beats us in the region for that year. This compares with Guyana 103.0, Haiti 200.0St. Lucia 9.0, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 24.0 to quote just a few random samples.
St kitts & Nevis has 0.00 rate. How can we be lower than that???
these are the kind of things those so called bright and intigilent dominician should comment on. but no their D.N.A is gossipppppp i have concluded.
Aye aye Dominica win something at last.
Is not about the lowest rate, its about zero rate. During the 1980’s govt of dominica was successful in irradicating TB in Dominica. Now ‘thanks’ to the present reckless governance and health policies, this regime has reintroduced it back into the system.
Its a doggone shame to talk about the lowest, when previously the number was zero. For that matter the specialized TB unit of the time was short down due to lack of use and converted to a psychiatric unit.
*shut down
oh that’s nice. good news for a change.
@KBCR… Applause, Applause, Applause!! there’s lots of good news… there are sore loosers that like to keep bringing up, making up & committing negative acts to disrupt society.
I do think that since universal healthcare is present in DA, the private practitioners should share/update the State Hospital with their patients conditions. Also this would be possible if there were a secure centralized database of all patients and their treatment so nurses and doctors are informed of patients medical history. The technology is there the security and redundancy of such a system remains in question.
great job Dr. D!
“There are lots of good news…” Yet you fail to name any