Microsoft Word 02Preface doc

3)
 
Tuberculosis Control   
Ghana has been ranked as having the highest prevalence rate for TB of any endemic 
country and is at the 13th position among African countries according to the 
established number of TB cases reported to WHO.    The report of the MOH mentions 
that 6,407 new cases were found in 1990 and this number increased to 10,449 in 1996.   
It is assumed that the factors causing this growth are malnutrition, overpopulation, 
deterioration in sanitation conditions, drug resistance and 
HIV-positive pulmonary TB 
cases
. 
The implementation of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme started in 1994, 
and t
he emphasis of this program is on the early diagnosis and treatment of 
smear-positive pulmonary patients who are a major source of infection in the 
community. Currently, the Tuberculosis Control Strategic Plan for Ghana is operated 
as major program under the Second Five-Year Health Sector Programme 2002-2006.   
Main objectives are as follows:   
 
¾
 
Detect 70% of TB cases and, of these, 
attain at least a 85% cure rate among all cohorts 
of smear-positive cases enrolled in short-course chemotherapy.
 
¾
 
Decrease the prevalence rate and mortality rate of tuberculosis by 50% by 2010. 
¾
 
Eliminate the threat of TB threat by 2050.