60,000 Ugandans infected with TB every year, WHO

Upto 60,000 Ugandans get infected with Tuberculosis every year and only 40,000 are diagnosed.

This is according to latest figured released by the World Health Organisation.

The revelation has been made at the national celebrations to mark the World Tuberculosis Day in Gulu district.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same event at Kaunda grounds in Gulu district this afternoon, Health Minister Elioda Tumwesigye said government had registered remarkable progress in reduction of Tuberculosis cases through improved access to information about the disease.

He however says TB remains the number one killer of people living with HIV.

Earlier, Uganda Cares, a non-government organisation that promotes access to health services revealed that men are more susceptible to Tuberculosis in Uganda.

The senior medical officer at Uganda Cares Dr. Nina Nakawuka says out of every 10 patients they receive 8 are men.

Nakawuka was speaking at an event to mark the World Tuberculosis Day at St Balikudembe market in Kampala.

The UN has described Tuberculosis as “a human tragedy” .

It says the disease still kills 1.5 million people and affects nine million people around the world every year.

Story by Herbert Zziwa

Written by Reporter