Recovering from Tuberculosis, or TB, is possible, but involves a lot of patience, effort, discipline and understanding from both the TB patients and the people around them. Easily detectable through medical examination and diagnosis, TB is not a non-communicable disease, as certain types can be transmitted from person to person. Tonight's News at Ten brings an exclusive interview with Doctor Mohd Rieo Syafi'i bin Salor, a Medical Officer at the Disease Control Division, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health to give further insight into the characteristics of Tuberculosis and how to deal with the disease.
TB has been on the decline in Brunei Darussalam from 55 cases per 100,000 people in 2021, to 51 cases per 100,000 people in 2022, due to increased monitoring and surveillance, as well as a fast and accurate close-contact detection system. Nevertheless, the main responsibility rests upon the TB patients themselves to adhere to the treatment regimes.
Doctor Mohd Rieo Syafi'i advised the general public not to discriminate against or stigmatise TB patients as they are in need of being in a good mental state, and require support to be able to go through their treatment.
Source: Radio Television Brunei