An expert in the handling of tuberculosis today begins a week long engagement with health care providers in the TCI aimed at helping the country better handle any future outbreak of the disease. Dr. Ward Schrooten will provide technical assistance in the areas of surveillance, treatment, management and containment of the disease. His services have been made available to the TCI through PAHO, the Pan American Health Organisation.
Dr. Schrooton will meet with Ministry of Health primary care staff and InterHealth Canada clinical staff who are involved with diagnosis and or treatment of tuberculosis.
The meeting will:
- Review tuberculosis cases and current systems for surveillance and contact tracing
- Discuss screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of tuberculosis cases, and
- Discuss mandatory requirement for the protection of patient information and confidentiality
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Judith Campbell, in welcoming the support said:
“We will be able to review our response to recent cases of TB in the Turks and Caicos Islands including the H.M. Prison, and examine ways to further strengthen our systems and procedures. We are indeed grateful to PAHO for arranging this assistance and to CAREC to which Dr. Schrooten is attached.”
Tuberculosis is a disease of the lungs whose main symptoms are a chronic cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. It is highly contagious and, left untreated, can be deadly.
