27 Mar 2008

PNG Government announces plan to eliminate TB by 2050

8:16 pm on 27 March 2008

The Papua New Guinea Government has committed to eradicating tuberculosis by 2050.

The national TB manager, Dr Paul Aia, told the Post-Courier during World TB Day in Port Moresby on Wednesday that the eradication goal was outlined in the government's new TB programme.

Each year more than 3000 people die of TB in PNG, and another 15,000 cases are diagnosed.

The TB programme aims to reduce the number of cases by 80 percent by 2020.

A Swiss-based organisation the Global Fund Against Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS has donated $21 Million towards the TB programme.

Dr Aia said many people die as a result of not taking their treatment or being diagnosed too late, and a public education plan was being implemented.

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