Acting Medical Superintendent Tamavua Twomey Hospital Dr. Mike Kama

The Ministry of Health is committed to achieving the 2035 global End-TB program targets.

The targets are to reduce Tuberculosis incidence and deaths by 90% and 95% respectively.

It also targets to cease the high costs associated with the disease.

Acting Medical Superintendent Tamavua Twomey Hospital Dr. Mike Kama says in 2017, the Ministry indicated that 49 out of every 100, 000 Fijians had TB and about four of those infected succumbed to the disease.

Dr. Kama says TB can be easily spread if not managed properly.

He says transmission of TB through ingestion of contaminated cow’s milk has largely been reduced by pasteurization of milk.

Dr. Kama adds people with pre-existing HIV and/or diabetes conditions are at higher risk of developing TB.

The symptoms of TB include coughing for over 2 weeks, fever, night sweats, weight loss and coughing out blood and is diagnosed by having a chest X-Ray and a saliva sample tested for the presence of the bacteria.

Meanwhile, the Ministry will commemorate World Tuberculosis Day on Friday with the theme “It’s Time to End TB in my Generation”.