Thousands suffer from TB

Thousands suffer from TB

PADANG, West Sumatra: A total of 1,451, or 37 percent, of
patients at hospitals and health centers in Western Sumatra in
the past year have been found to be suffering from tuberculosis
(TB), an official says.

Head of the Ministry of Health's provincial office Dr. Firdaus
Bahauddin said yesterday the figure was lower than that recorded
in the previous year, when 40 percent of health service consumers
were found to be suffering from TB.

Of the 14 regencies in the province, Pesisir Selatan has the
most TB patients, followed by Agam, Sawah Lunto-Sijunjung and
Padang. Firdaus did not give detailed statistics for each
regency.

Firdaus lamented the high number of TB patients dropping out
of treatment. "This disease needs lengthy treatment, and most
people became impatient and refused to take regular medication,"
he said. (01/swe)