Sabah has very high number of TB patients
TAWAU: Sabah is one of the states in the country with the highest number of Tuberculosis (TB) patients, with about 4,000 recorded in 2017.
In Tawau alone, there were 513 TB patients recorded in 2017 compared with 425 patients in 2016, said the advisor of Sabah Tuberculosis Prevention Association (Sabata) Tawau, Peter Lu Yit Pin during the association's 2016-2017 annual general meeting at a hotel here here yesterday.
He said many of the TB patients were not aware and would not know they were suffering from the disease until it spreads widely in the society.
“It is such a worrying matter. I hope all committee members and members could work together and lend our hands to enhance the cleanliness and the healthiness of our environment from time to time,” he said.
According to him, TB is highly contagious if no early treatment is being done. It is caused by bacteria that affects the lungs which spreads through the air by coughing, spitting, speaking and sneezing among the close contact with others. However, he said TB is curable by taking medication.
Meanwhile, Tawau Sabata president Jessie Hiew disclosed that the association would carry out a TB health check for people at identified TB hotspot areas such as Kg Kurnia Jaya and Kg Hidayat at Jalan Apas, Batu 4 1/2 here from April 16 to 20.
Sabata Tawau will provide transport allowance for poor TB patients to go to TB clinics for periodical review and treatment.
During the AGM, Dr Sitti Hajar who is supervisor of TB clinics at Tawau Hospital, bade farewell as she will be transferred to Selangor next Monday.