|
Aids blamed for TB spread
17/03/2007 14:33 - (SA)
Abidjan - Aids is to blame for last year's sharp rise in cases of tuberculosis in the Ivory Coast, health authorities said on Friday at the launch of a new programme to combat the pulmonary disease.
According to the latest figures, 21 204 cases of tuberculosis were detected in 2006, representing an increase on the 2002 figure of 16 031, and were linked to the country's high level of Aids infection, currently running at 4.%.
"Tuberculosis is the first infection to capitalise on Aids," said Jacquemin Kouakou, director of the National Programme for Fighting Tuberculosis.
"One tuberculosis sufferer in two is co-infected with the HI-virus", which can lead to the Aids disease.
The Ivory Coast recorded 393 cases of tuberculosis for every 100 000 inhabitants, while the medium across the African sub-Sahara was 290, Kouakou said.
Health officials were speaking on Friday at the announcement of tougher measures to fight the spread of the disease, including increasing the number of screening centres from 86 to 110 over three years.
The goal is earlier detection, with one microscope per 100 000 inhabitants to comply with World Health Organisation standards, said Kouakou, adding that currently the figure is 250 000.
- AFP
|
News
