Tuberculosis (TB) infection in several areas of London has reached levels that are higher than the cases reported in Rwanda, Algeria, Iraq, Guatemala and Eritrea. The numbers even surpassed the "high incidence" limit set by the World Health Organization at 40 occurrences for every ten thousand people.
Commissioned to probe the role of the Mayor in dealing with the said infection, a recent study found out that more than 2,500 cases of tuberculosis were reported in London in 2014. This account encompassed roughly 40% of the total TB occurrences in the United Kingdom. The researchers also came across some areas where the prevalence levels already reached as much as 113 cases per 100,000 population.
For more than a decade, London has been tagged as the "TB capital of Western Europe". Further, the disease has brought a big ordeal to the city government's health sector.
Health Committee Chairman Dr. Onkar Sahota affirmed that TB is a barometer of health inequalities. "If the mayor is to reduce health inequalities in London, he must combat TB and its underlying social factors," he said.
The researchers stressed out the importance of constant monitoring to campaign against infectious diseases like tuberculosis. The government has to take concrete and prompt actions and continue implementing its programs until the problem regarding this infectious disease has been finally resolved.
The city chief executive and his successors must spearhead government plans that will reduce health inequalities that exist in London and assure that all the population will get the best quality services to have a decent living.
Also, the government must complement the commitment and dedication of those health workers who are providing medical treatment and assistance to TB patients.
The Commission also recommended launching programs that will create public awareness about TB, its being communicable, its symptoms, prevention and cure. More so, the NHS London should also set a strategic plan that will assure all the boroughs in London will get a total BCG vaccine coverage by 2017.
