Accra: The Janok Foundation, a community-based non-governmental organisation, has collaborated with health facilities in three districts within the Greater Accra Region to commemorate the 2026 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day by offering free health screening activities. The health facilities involved in this initiative include the Chest Clinic at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ablekuma Central Municipal Health Directorate, and the Ablekuma North Municipal Health Directorate. Communities that benefited from the free TB screenings included Zongo Ayigbe Town, Laterbiokorshie Zongo Market, and Darkuman Accra Station.
According to Ghana News Agency, World TB Day is celebrated annually in March across the globe to raise awareness about the disease and to help curb its spread. Madam Jane Amerley Oku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Janok Foundation, urged the government to increase local funding for TB awareness campaigns and treatment, noting that global grants for health support in Ghana are diminishing. She also highlighted the importance of recognizing the efforts of NGOs that play a crucial role in disseminating accurate information and providing treatment support for TB.
Madam Oku emphasized the curability of tuberculosis and advised that anyone experiencing a persistent cough for more than two weeks should undergo screening. She stressed that TB treatment is free and urged individuals not to delay seeking help. Mr. Stanley Botchway, the Project Coordinator at the Janok Foundation, explained that TB is an airborne disease, and early screening aids in its detection and treatment, thus preventing its spread. He advised that covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing and using facemasks when necessary are effective ways to prevent the spread of TB, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. Early detection and treatment are crucial in halting the transmission of TB and saving lives.