TB or Tuberculosis is a curable disease. However, every year almost 2 million people die because of the disease worldwide and according to the World Health Organization report on Saudi Arabia, more than 3000 people were affected with TB last year and this year the figures have risen to 4500. The Ministry of Health, along with the help of Saudi youth are carrying out a campaign for the awareness of TB throughout 2009. More than 4,000 volunteers have already joined the campaign. Nabeel Noura and Khalid Radwan, are medical internees at the King Abdul Aziz Hospital and the ‘medical' participants of the campaign “STB” (“Stop TB”). “We believe that human health is the most expensive thing to have, and must be preserved. Tuberculosis is a disease transmitted through the air by breathing, and direct or indirect contact with the patient,” said Nabeel. “TB is a preventable and curable disease that continues to affect millions of lives in the world. 95 percent people don't know they are carrying the disease, so the main aim of our campaign is to make that 95 percent become aware of it,” added Khalid. “Because the symptoms are not such which can show that you are suffering with TB, the disease cannot be diagnosed at the primary stage. The bacteria is therefore discovered in the secondary stage.” he remarked. “Many people don't know about the disease and symptoms and they do not visit doctors, so through this campaign we will create awareness amongst our community about the correct way to treat TB,” he explained. In HIV positive patients the incidence of the TB bacteria increases in proportion to HIV negative patients. TB and HIV combine together to increase the chances of fatalities. “Anyone can get infected with TB regardless of age, immunity or strength, because of having a weak immune system. According to WHO reports, today every third person is carrying TB bacteria, especially in under-developed countries and even in Saudi Arabia, because of the changing environment and various health hazards. The public should know with what they are fighting,” stated Khalid, adding “A person with a TB infection but without the active disease will experience no symptoms.” A person with pulmonary TB may have all or none of the following symptoms: persistent cough, weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the occasional appearance of blood when coughing. A person with extra-pulmonary TB may experience the general symptoms of TB, as well as other symptoms depending on the organs affected. For instance, swelling may appear in different areas of the body, with occasional ‘pus drainage' when lymph nodes are affected. Patients may also experience pain and swelling in joints, headache, fever, stiffness in the neck and in the case of Tuberculosis Meningitis, even drowsiness. Dr. Muneera Balahmar, the head of the Primary Health Care and Primary Health Education Department Ministry of Health says that TB affects women significantly worldwide. In every 10-15 seconds a patient died because of TB, according to her. “We should be more careful about this disease and more awareness should be spread, especially among women because when a women is ill, the whole family is affected with her as she has to take care of her family and home,” she remarked. “Patients with TB should take their medicines on time and regular checkups with a doctor are very important,” she emphasized. “People should avoid drinking expired milk and living in closed homes with the AC on. Fresh air and sunlight is very important for killing bacteria and germs for a healthy life,” she explained. An exhibition on TB highlighting treatments, cures and other information about the disease were held at Serafi Mega Mall in Jeddah recently, with twelve medical companies specialized in fighting Tuberculosis - as part of the “Stop TB” campaign to participate in the International Stop Tuberculosis (STB) Day on Mar. 24 - participating by conducting an awareness campaign with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health. “TB is a preventable disease but as it spreads quickly and very easily, people should know about the symptoms and the possible cures of the disease,” said Dr. Sami Saleh Eid, the head of the Preventive Medicines Department at the Ministry of Health, who was at the event. “ After the crisis of HIV it has become more prominent,” he said, adding “ though the WHO is trying to introduce new cures, the medicines that are available at the moment are very effective and available in pharmacies, TB centres and hospitals.” “In Saudi Arabia the disease is in control but there are chances of it increasing, so the Ministry of Health wants to control it with this awareness campaign, to prevent it from increasing,” he explained to Saudi Gazette, adding “before it was just in poor areas but now it has become more prominent and is spreading everywhere, so we have become more concerned.” The campaign is moving ahead with full steam. Field activities, including visits to educational and business establishments have already started to enhance public awareness on this issue.
