DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Tuberculosis and Leprosy Unitwith around one per year for leprosy. The Unit provides direct clinical care, both medical andnursing, as well as Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) to the large majority of tuberculosispatients currently under treatment. This usually involves three times weekly nursing outreachvisits to each patient on DOT.In addition, the Unit also provides care for latent tuberculosis infection and non-tuberculousmycobacterial disease. Management of active tuberculosis is likely to become moreresource-intensive in the coming years as we begin to see increasing numbers of multidrugresistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), for which drug treatment is more costly, the durationto cure longer and drug side effects more probable. An increase in the regional prevalenceFour clinics per week are run in Darwin as well as regular clinics in Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, workload for nursing and medical staff. This often requires outreach visits into both urbanand remote communities.Refugee Health and Unauthorised Fishers and the Irregular Maritime ArrivalsThe Tuberculosis Unit continues to provide screening for tuberculosis for intermittent maritimenow undertaken by the Refugee Health Service at Vanderlin Drive Medical Clinic.apprehended by the Australian Government. The screens are federally funded and for thesemeasure during 2009. Northern Territory.In July 2009 the H1N1 epidemic in Australia was in full swing and had a major impacton the Northern Territory. A survey conducted by the CDC surveillance section found thatstrain.CDC worked in close cooperation with general practitioners, hospitals and laboratories toof remote communities. CDC coordinated the response with both the Department andCommunity Controlled services to ensure that all clinics were well informed and hadadequate supplies of antiviral medication and protective equipment to deal with peopleIn September 2009, the Australian Government made available to everyone over 10 yearsstrain (Panvax®). From September 2009 to April 2010, CDC employed dedicated staff tosupport the vaccination campaign both in urban and remote settings. By May 2010, at least160Department Health and Families