Badili TB clinic staff and community treatment supporters. Photo: Supplied / Paediatric Society PNG
The Paediatric Society of Papua New Guinea has renewed calls to end childhood tuberculosis which impacts thousands of young lives in light of world health day.
In PNG, over 7000 children are impacted by tuberculosis.
The country witnessed a surge in cases last year, surpassing 40,000, with children accounting for 26 percent of cases, much higher than the global average of 10 percent.
The society said the surge in cases is attributed to various factors including delayed treatment, under-equipped health centers, and staffing shortages, exacerbated by community transmission.
Detecting tuberculosis in children is particularly challenging due to vague symptoms, but efforts are underway to bolster diagnosis and treatment.
The Paediatric Society said the country is prioritising the provision of the latest treatment and child-friendly medications to children to ensure their well-being.
The number of children receiving treatment at the Port Moresby General Hospital has increased in number, going from 435 to 900 in 2023.
Paediatrician Dr Gordon Pukai urges families to be vigilant for symptoms such as a prolonged cough, fevers, night sweats, weight loss, and chronic illness.
Pukai encourages affected ones to complete the full course of medicine provided, saying,
"TB is curable, and the treatment is free," he said.
"It's crucial to ensure that children receive all doses of immunization to protect them from preventable diseases and promote overall health"
Badili TB clinic staff and community treatment supporters. Photo: Supplied / Paediatric Society PNG
To further address the crisis, the Paediatric Society launched the Child TB-HIV Project, aimed at improving testing and detection of child TB cases.
Efforts include further upskilling healthcare workers, implementing advanced testing methods, and improving treatment options for drug-resistant TB and TB-HIV co-infection.
Additionally, groundbreaking progress has been made with the introduction of child-friendly TB medicine, a significant achievement not only for Papua New Guinea but also on a global scale.
The 'Child TB-HIV Project' is funded by the PNG Australian Partnership in collaboration with the National TB Program, National Department of Health, Port Moresby General Hospital, and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences.