BMA tackles TB after poor WHO ranking
THE Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has organised a campaign to reduce the number of people contracting tuberculosis after Thailand ranked as the 14th worst country in the world for the disease.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Pussadee Tamthai yesterday presided over the opening of the “Bangkok Stops TB” event at the Hua Lampong Railway Station.
The campaign was held in association with the Department of Disease Control, the Tuberculosis Association of Thailand, the World Health Organisation’s Thailand office, World Vision and other public and private organisations.
It ran from Monday until World TB Day yesterday.
Pussadee said the BMA saw the importance of the campaign because people, especially those living in crowded communities and those working in air-conditioned environments, could easily contract TB.
“Each year, Thailand reports about 10,000 new TB cases and only 80 per cent are completely cured,’’ she said.
The WHO, which compiled the TB rankings, launched the “Unite End TB” in a bid to eradicate the disease.
The BMA’s mobile campaign started at Don Mueang Airport before moving to the Mor Chit Bus Station, Min Buri market, the Hua Lampong Railway Station and the Southern Bus Terminal in Talingchan district.
People who attended the event could receive a free X-ray examination for TB and children aged under six could receive a free BCG vaccination, which is primarily used against TB.
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