TAWAU: The number of deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in Sabah is on a worrying upward trajectory, according to state health authorities.
As of March 2024, there have already been 101 TB deaths recorded, putting Sabah on pace to potentially surpass last year’s toll of 517 deaths compared to 466 deaths in 2022 and 437 deaths in 2021.
Speaking at the recent 2024 World TB Day celebration here, State Health Director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna revealed the grim statistics.
“TB remains one of the major disease burdens in Malaysia, and the current situation is gravely affecting the quality of life of Malaysians,” he said.
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Dr Asits stressed that while treatment is available to cure TB, efforts must be dramatically increased to ensure early detection and rapid treatment for those infected.
TB is an infectious disease that spreads through the air caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The main organ infected is the lungs (pulmonary TB), but other organs can also get infected such as the brain (TB meningitis), spine (spinal TB), lymph nodes (lymph node TB), abdomen (abdominal TB) and others.
Part of the challenge is overcoming dangerous misconceptions about the disease.
“Beliefs that TB symptoms are caused by witchcraft, modern influences or hereditary factors need to be corrected,” Dr Asits said.
“We must get individuals with symptoms to health clinics and hospitals immediately. I sincerely hope that TB will no longer be an infectious disease in the community by 2035.
For this fight against TB, high commitment and close cooperation between individuals, communities and various parties are much needed to realise this year’s TB celebration theme,” he said.
The World TB Day event aimed to raise public awareness while also providing free health screenings, dental check-ups, a health exhibition and mobile X-ray TB screening services.
Tawau District Health Officer Dr Shameer Khan emphasised the importance of family, employer and community support to ensure patients complete their full treatment regimen.
“Patients who stop treatment can face legal action under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act,” Dr Shameer said.
“We need full commitment from all levels of society to end this epidemic by 2035, in line with this year’s theme ‘Yes, We Can Stop TB!’,” he added.
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