Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveals, 136 cases of Tuberculosis (TB) were recorded in Maldives last year. HPA revealed this statistic in an official statement released to coincide with World Tuberculosis Day.
Maldives has been amongst the countries which has the lowest records of tuberculosis (TB), according to HPA.
HPA revealed that, a total of 12,247 cases have been recorded between 1966 and 2017. HPA cited that in the past 3 years a declining trend has been observed in the cases of TB recorded with just 136 cases of TB recorded last year. The agency revealed that the expatriate community living in Maldives are at high risk of contracting the disease. The number of TB cases filed by expatriates in Maldives has increased, according to statistics issued by the National TB Control Programme.
The administration of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been exerting major efforts to eradicate TB from the country. As part of these efforts President Yameen launched the National Strategic Plan to End Tuberculosis in Maldives. The government of Maldives aims to become the first country in the South Asia Region to eliminate tuberculosis. Under the National Strategic Plan, a total expenditure of approximately USD 11 million would be invested in efforts to eliminate TB from Maldives by 2022. In addition, the government aims to reduce the TB indicating rate by 50% and the TB mortality rate by 75%.
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with the bacteria coughs, sneezes, or talks.