The Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Alex O’Connor has applauded the Naitasiri Provincial Council for taking a bold step to declare war on Tuberculosis (‘mate ni gacagaca’) and a commitment to ending it by 2035.

Mr O’Connor while opening the Naitasiri first Provincial Meeting at the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Hall in Nausori on Friday said he was honoured to launch the ‘Tuberculosis (TB) Free Naitasiri’ initiative.

Mr O’Connor said tuberculosis remained an important disease of public health concern for Fiji.

In 2016 alone, at least 312 Fijian were detected and treated for TB.

About half of this number (55 per cent of these cases) was from the Central/ Eastern division and six persons from Naitasiri.

Tuberculosis is spread by coughing, sneezing and commonly spread within families in our communities.

“Tuberculosis is curable. However, sadly in most communities in our beloved country, it is often left unnoticed or the person is not aware that he/she may have TB until they present very sick to the health centre or nursing station,” Mr O’Connor said.

He said when it was left untreated; it could lead to death or result in a poor quality of life by ‘having breathing problems’ a result of damaged lungs.

“The Naitasiri Council has taken this bold step to partner with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services through the National Tuberculosis Programme.”

Mr O’Connor acknowledged the Global Fund Grant for giving the funds to allow Naitasiri Council to participate as a successful recipient of the community grant to prevent and fight the disease.

The grant funds all community based education sessions to raise awareness on prevention of tuberculosis, detect and facilitate referral of tuberculosis cases and reduce stigma related to the disease within the province of Naitasiri.