San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, Cuba.- Health system in Cuba has a primary care program for control, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, a transmissible but curable disease. Incidentally we talked with Dr. Elba Rosa Red, Head of the Hygiene and Epidemiology Department of the Municipal Health Directorate in the territory.
How do you assess the behavior of the disease in the territory?
Given the national rate of tuberculosis and behavior of the disease in San Antonio de los Baños it is classified as medium risk. According to the criteria of the World Health Organization, we are below 84 percent. Annually new cases appear , therefore there is a permanent surveillance.
Which are the results from primary care?
Preventive work is done although the search does not reach all vulnerable groups, so there is not an efficient control. It should be stressed as risk groups: diabetics, alcoholics, immunosuppressed. The screening in these fragile people do not complete the entire vulnerable population.
What strategy is followed through the office?
The low rate of tuberculosis that exhibits the country is a result of the implementation of the program, the strategy includes preventive measures, the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment, especially the most vulnerable groups. Through educational talks and promotion, we insist on the responsibility of each individual to take care of their health from the perception of risk, the need to ventilate the rooms allow the entry of light solar and see a doctor if you have cough with phlegm for more than 15 days to rule out tuberculosis.
Within the preventive work is necessary to stress, What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of tuberculosis is fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and persistent cough. These symptoms occur in most people infected with the germ causing the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacteria that mostly affects the lungs. It is spread from person to person by air.
Any other recommendation?
Prevention is the best and most effective option. Each person should be responsible to avoid contagion. Treatment in Cuba is free and the patient should consume healthy foods, comply with treatment and take pills with responsibility.