Caption: Prime Minister O'Neill.
By MATTHEW VARI
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has urged for more responsibility to be taken by the people in light of an increase of tuberculosis and the continued outbreak of the measles virus in the country at a press conference at the National Parliament on Monday.
The call follows concerns raised on health issues by the World Health Organization (WHO) Director of the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo- especially that of the rise in drugs resistant TB patients in the country.
He assured citizens that the government was doing its part by providing the necessary treatment of both illnesses, but stressed the importance of keeping up with medication doses to treat TB and vaccinations for children against measles.
“Many of you know that our free basic healthcare program that we are rolling out in many parts of the country is starting to make considerable improvement in way we deliver health services to our people,” the PM said.
“Including the commitments government has made to health infrastructure facilities in the last two years, and also the delivery of drugs has also improved.”
“For the first time the government has invested sufficient amount of money according to the national health plan, but challenges still remain.”
He pointed out that the challenges are substantial which was where the WHO regional director stated that more cooperation is needed.
“We have got some challenges in specific areas like TB that was expressed to us by the regional director- it is on the rise in many communities around the country and those who are not consistent with the medication supplied to them are developing resistance by the disease to the drugs,” O’Neill said.
“Cases in the Western Province, Gulf, and NCD are of concern- it is seen that there is a slight increase, not at an alarming rate, but we must now take precautionary measures so that when we have family members and relatives who are affected with TB.”
The PM said that the cost of treating drug resistant patients would put a strain on the fiancés of the country with the cost of treating drug resistant patients put at over K25,000 per patient.
“The regional director is concerned because when you have multi drug resistance TB it is very expensive to treat, thus becoming a burden to the nation in terms of its finances,” he said.
Prime Minister O’Neill also called on parents not to neglect the importance of immunizing their children in light of the spread of measles throughout country in an outbreak that health officials have stated as baffling, in terms of the age groups it has affected.
“Parents are neglecting their responsibilities they should make sure they take their children to the health centers and hospitals for their vaccination that is required of them that they must get it as soon as possible,” he said.
“We are appealing to them that they are risking their child’s life when they do not attend to vaccination they are suppose to receive.”
“It is free of charge, every health facility in the country there is no excuse whatsoever so please let’s work together.”
He said that the government was aiming for a 100 percent vaccination rate in the country and added that the time to act was now before it gets out of hand to a stage where the health system would not cope with.
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