Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on Saturday established a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment facility. The GeneXpert test facility was established under the National Strategic Plan for TB Control in the Maldives.
Studies show that South East Asia has the highest prevalence rates of TB, accounting for over 58% of new cases worldwide. In 2014, 9.6 million people worldwide were estimated to have fallen ill with the disease while 1.5 million people suffered TB-related deaths and it is amongst the top 5 causes of death in women aged between 15-44 years. The same year, an estimated 1 million children were diagnosed with TB and 140-Thousand children died from the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in the South East Asia Region, the disease has killed around 460,000 people while approximately 340,000 children have contracted it. The prevalence of the disease is however low in the Maldives compared to other countries in the region, statistics show.
Statistics from the Health Protection Agency show that between 1996 and 2016, a total of 11,047 were registered for TB treatment. According to HPA, the prevalence of TB has seen an increase between 2012 and 2015, with 110 and 156 patients registered for treatment, respectively.
The GeneXpert test is a state-of-the-art technology which is 98% more sensitive and accurate compared to most other TB tests, ensuring timely detection of TB. The machine provides quick results, allowing patients to start effective treatment sooner, and requires minimal technical training to run the tests, IGMH said. The state-run hospital said 48 patients have been tested for the disease, while 5 tested positive for TB, but none were diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB.