This 48-year-old man requested us to conceal his identity, he had Tuberculosis and wondered how he got it. “I don’t smoke. It is hard to tell that you have TB until the endless coughing begins.” After two months with bad cough, his sputum was examined at Luwero Health Center IV where it was confirmed that he had TB. “In February 2017, I went to a hospital in Kasana and I was tested. I have generally had no issues with the medication.”
Uganda ranked 16th out of 22 countries with the highest TB burden according to the World Health Organization. Reports from the Health Ministry indicated that 80,000 new cases were registered across the country every year. Luwero district records indicated that 1,160 new cases were registered every year. The district recorded 500 cases since the year begun.
Ronald Mubiru the District TB Focal Person said this was worrying. In the research recently carried out, Mubiru said they had examined taxi drivers and 50% tested positive for TB. “Why do we bring out these people? Our taxi people, those who are in transport are not aware of this disease. You sit in the taxi, all windows are closed and they have no time to go and check for medical attention.” To understand the situation better, our reporter boarded a taxi from Luwero to Nakasongola. It was a squeeze, congested, and there was practically no breathing space, she could hardly see where the taxi was going.
Tuberculosis is a disease of the lungs caused by a mycobacterium transmitted through the air. In this congested environment, if an infected person speaks, sneezes, coughs or laughs, anyone in these surroundings will inhale these particles. “It spreads through air, it’s an airborne disease. So what does it mean; it is highly infectious.” NTV talked to some taxi drivers. “We shut the windows because of the dust.” “There are times when you sit in the taxi and all the windows are locked, you can’t even open. We are 14, you are 20 people in a taxi. Someone is coughing, so it puts our communities to a higher risk of acquiring TB.”
Treatment of Tuberculosis lasts for 6 months, the symptoms including coughing that lasts 3 or more weeks, coughing out blood, an unintentional weight loss. Ronald Mubiru says people can be free from the bacteria by avoiding such overcrowded environments. “Sit in a taxi, at least leave the window with some space open. So we have sensitized the drivers and even down to our communities; the VHTs are already aware.” It is a fact that many people with TB cannot trace how, when and where they were exposed. Mubiru said public transport managers should ensure that operators practice proper hygienic methods as they go about their business.
