Vusumuzi Dube
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE US$15,5 million five-year tuberculosis (TB) programme initiated by the Government and its partners ended last week with a notable impact in the fight against the disease where over a million people from across the country’s eight priority districts benefited.
The Kunda-Nqob’iTB (KN-TB) initiative was instrumental in reducing TB cases and ensuring that all previously undiagnosed patients received care.
Supported by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the programme trained more than 1 000 village health workers to deliver TB services in districts such as Gweru, Kwekwe, Shurugwi, Chirumhanzu, Zvishavane, Gwanda, Insiza and Mwenezi.
Deputy Director TB Prevention and Control in the Ministry of Health and Childcare Dr Fungai Kavenga highlighted the programme’s critical role in the national TB response.
“The KN-TB programme has significantly reduced the TB incidences in Zimbabwe. They have decreased from 242 per 100 000 people in previous years to 204 per 100 000 by 2022. It has also helped lower the prevalence of HIV among TB patients from 62 percent in 2015 to 50 percent in 2023. We are confident that with continued investment, we will eliminate TB by 2030,” Dr Kavenga said.
The KN-TB Programme focused on identifying missed TB cases and connecting individuals with essential healthcare services.
Executed through collaboration between USAID and the Union Zimbabwe Trust (UZT), the initiative sought to strengthen health systems while enhancing the skills of healthcare workers and expanding community-based TB prevention and support.
According to UZT, the integration of palliative care into primary health services for TB significantly improved treatment outcomes.
Through concerted efforts of community health workers, more than 1,1 million people received TB-HIV education and screening leading to the identification of more than 13 800 TB cases. The treatment success rate for diagnosed patients jumped from 78 percent at the beginning of the programme to an impressive 90 percent at its conclusion.
Chief of Party for the KN-TB Programme Dr Ronald Thulani Ncube praised USAID’s critical support, acknowledging the collaborative approach that shaped the programme’s success.
“We reflect on these past five years with pride and a sense of achievement. The partnership among the Ministry of Health and Care, consortium partners, and stakeholders was vital in addressing the pressing TB issues in Zimbabwe,” Dr Ncube said.
To ensure inclusivity, the programme specifically targeted marginalised communities, including artisanal small-scale miners (ASMs).
During its implementation, at least 14 500 ASMs were reached, with over 1 000 diagnosed with TB and nearly 3 000 identified with silicosis, a disease that increases the risk of TB.
The KN-TB Programme’s innovative use of the “stamp strategy” has further transformed the detection and treatment of TB.
The simple yet effective approach involves health workers stamping patient cards with questions designed to prompt screening for TB during routine consultations. Those identified as having TB are quickly initiated on treatment.
The conclusion of the programme leaves the country at a pivotal point in its battle against TB armed with new strategies and strengthened community efforts to ensure a healthier future for its citizens.
Online Reporter