By Janet Sesay
One of the facilitators during the National Media Conversation on TB Reporting, Dr. Lena Matata, has said that parents can transmit TB to their unborn babies, as the TB bacteria can be transmitted via blood vessels to the placenta.
She made this statement on Thursday 31st January 2019 at the Hill Valley Hotel, Signal Hill, in Freetown during the Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis (CISMAT) media engagement to end TB in the country.
Dr. Matata stated that persons living with HIV (PLWHIV) are at risk for both TB infection and TB disease. This is because HIV weakens and lowers the immunity of an individual.
She detailed that TB infection is prevented by BCG vaccination, it prevents malnutrition (malnutrition reduces immunity especially in children), it reduces over-crowding, especially in residential areas and public transport, it also reduces contact of vulnerable persons with source cases.
According to the Programme Manager of CISMAT, Mr. Mohamed Samura, they decided to partner with the media to end TB in the country, especially as the media plays a pivotal role in the fight against any outbreak.
He said that the media is an integral part toward nation building. He is convinced that, with their involvement, the fight will be won as Sierra Leoneans did during the Ebola outbreak few years’ back.
Mr. Mohamed Samura explained how they have established DOT centres across the country, which, according to him, has been of great importance towards the fight against TB.
Mr. Paul Bangura, one of the facilitators, said that, among their findings across the country, they have been able to discover that distance inhibits effective drugs distribution and makes it difficult for recipients to access them.
He also stated that food and other charges also hinder patients from visiting the various health facilities to access drugs.