As Gulf records surge in Tuberculosis cases, the province launched its kick TB out campaign in its provincial capital Kerema Town last week.
The province is emerging as a significant contributor to the nation’s tuberculosis (TB) burden, with health authorities raising concerns over rising infections and deaths linked to the disease.
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According to provincial Tuberculosis Coordinator Sandra Iamure, the province is approaching 700 cases per head in its contribution to the country’s overall disease statistics, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Tuberculosis remains a major public health issue across Papua New Guinea, driven by factors such as poverty, limited access to healthcare services, and inadequate public health infrastructure.
Ms. Iamure revealed that between 2008 and 2025, the country recorded an average of 10 to 15 new TB cases daily, contributing to a national total of more than 51,000 cases.
She explained that TB treatment typically lasts between six and nine months, but non-compliance with medication has worsened the situation.
“If patients do not adhere to their treatment, the number of TB cases continues to rise. We have recorded as many as 733 cases linked to such challenges,” she said.
In Gulf Province alone, 681 cases have been recorded since 2025. Iamure also warned that between four and 13 people die each day from TB if it is left untreated.
The rise of drug-resistant TB is an increasing concern, with cases reported across 28 health facilities in 15 districts throughout the province.
At Kerema General Hospital, a total of 38 TB-related deaths has been recorded, including 18 deaths in 2025 alone.
Despite the alarming figures, she stressed that tuberculosis is curable and urged the public to take responsibility in preventing its spread by seeking early treatment and adhering strictly to prescribed medication.
Health authorities continue to call for strengthened awareness, improved healthcare access, and community cooperation to combat the spread of TB in Gulf Province and across the country.