On Sunday, March 13, a range of stakeholders and well-wishers joined the Ministry of Health to participate in the World TB Day marathon which was spearheaded by the National TB and Leprosy Programme. The marathon was held to commemorate World TB Day which was marked under the Global theme: ‘Invest to End TB-Save lives.’ The event was attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, and the Minister in charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba.
Speaking on the day of the marathon, Health minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said, “this is the first TB marathon we are having to create awareness about the burden of TB, which is still very high in Uganda but also to tell the population that there is need to end TB by 2030.”
She added that the government has invested in strengthening TB diagnostics among other interventions.
Proceeds from the marathon were meant to contribute to the construction of a TB ward in Iganga hospital.
According to Dr. Stavia Turyahabwe, the Assistant Commissioner for the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, about 90, 000 cases of new TB infections are registered annually.
Dr. Turyahabwe noted that the disease is common among HIV infected persons, diabetic persons and people who use tobacco.
As one of the major organizer of the first ever TB marathon , it was a very good experience to the community in terms of creating awareness since behavior change communication activities are under funded hence leaving many Ugandan not aware about TB and this has put in increase in number of TB cases and deaths.
I there for request to increase funds for SBCC at the national level ,