The Deputy Minister for Health, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for renewed national commitment and stronger community involvement in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), as Ghana joined the global community to mark World Tuberculosis Day 2026.
Speaking under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Communities, Powered by the People,” she stressed that ending the disease requires collective action driven by communities.
She revealed that about 44,000 Ghanaians develop TB each year, but fewer than half are detected and treated, a gap she described as a major challenge in the country’s response to the disease.
To address this, the Deputy Minister highlighted government interventions aimed at strengthening diagnosis and care, including the deployment of AI-enabled digital X-ray systems, the procurement of 15 GeneXpert machines, and TB-LAM test kits.
She added that the Free Primary Healthcare programme is also improving early detection and access to treatment.
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, underscored the importance of identifying and treating every case to break the chain of transmission and save lives.
He commended health workers nationwide for their dedication to diagnosing, treating, and supporting patients.
Meanwhile, Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Fiona Braka, warned that TB continues to claim lives at an alarming rate in Africa, with one death recorded every 83 seconds.
She called for stronger leadership, increased investment, and empowered communities to accelerate progress toward elimination.
The commemoration ended with a renewed call for sustained collaboration, with stakeholders emphasising that ending TB as a public health threat in Ghana is achievable through coordinated action, adequate resources, and active community participation.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com