Papua New Guinea Province Faces Continued Challenges in Reducing TB Prevalence

A high tuberculosis prevalence in Papua New Guinea's Madang province has created challenges for health workers striving to improve TB rates, Marcus Kachau, acting director of health, said last week, the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier reports. According to Kachau, although 2008 data demonstrate that Madang has made progress in TB control measures, the province still has the highest number of reported TB cases in the Pacific region. He added that 1,830 people received TB drugs in 2008 and that 1,368 people completed their treatment regimens.

Papua New Guinea in 2008 signed a declaration to eradicate TB from the country and meeting this target will require effort from each province, Kachau said. According to Kachau, the country's Department of Health, World Vision and other partners will help control TB in Madang and contribute to the country's TB eradication goal (Evara, PNG Post-Courier, 2/17).