Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Health Reporter
THE MINISTRY of Health and Child Care has screened almost 9 000 people for tuberculosis (TB) through its ongoing mobile screening and treatment programme targeting asymptomatic carriers as part of efforts to end the killer disease by 2035.
Some of the persons at risk are out of reach while others could not easily access services due to Covid-19 induced interruptions.Since the end of March this year, the country has managed to decentralise the service to every province through the acquisition of nine trucks which are being used as mobile clinics.
The intervention is focusing on risk groups such as people living with HIV, diabetes, miners, ex-miners, people exposed to silica dust, the elderly and malnourished children. They are enrolled into an electronic system that produces an X-ray whose results determine whether one requires tests for active TB. Speaking during a recent media TB orientation workshop in Kwekwe, targeted screening for active TB technical leader in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya said access to services remains a challenge for many communities in Zimbabwe. “Since March 2022 to date, we have screened more than 8 700 people and 7 845 X-rays have been taken, with 126 people being diagnosed with TB. Of those screened, three of them had drug resistant TB and everyone infected was initiated on treatment,” he said.
“The greatest challenge in terms of access to TB screening and care is the distances to health facilities and lack of time to get screened. That’s why we go to the people”s homesteads and their workplaces, especially artisanal miners.”
Dr Ngwenya said there is also a gap in terms of information dissemination. “People may not be aware of TB and the risks hence they won’t get screened,” he said.Dr Ngwenya said the screening also caters for diseases like HIV, diabetes, common cancers and hypertension.”So far 53 people have been diagnosed with HIV and started treatment. We have also initiated patients on TB preventive therapy. Targeted screening for active TB has led to early TB case detection, reducing negative outcomes and culminating in improved treatment coverage and reduced incidence,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya urged members of the public to utilise mobile facilities by getting screened as TB remains a concern in Zimbabwe.”We are glad that we have made the list of the most burdened countries, but we have to deal with cases especially drug resistant TB and HIV-TB coinfection. People must get screened early to avoid the physical, economic, social and mental impact of this disease on people and their families,” he said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Zimbabwe has made impressive gains in reducing the number of people who have developed TB between 2015 and 2019. Furthermore, the country’s coverage of HIV testing among TB patients and coverage with antiretroviral therapy for HIV positive TB patients are both over 90 percent, a positive since HIV is the major driver of TB in the country.
The incidence rate declined from 242 per 100,000 in 2015 to a rate of 199 per 100 000 for 2019, signaling positive strides towards ending TB within the targeted period. In addition, investments in new diagnostic technologies such as the Xpert MTB/Rif Assay, Line Probe Assay and Digital Radiology, has led to better diagnosis and treatment of TB and Drug Resistant TB. Zimbabwe now has 140 GeneXpert machines and 3 Line Probe Assay machines, while mobile trucks have been purchased to access the hard-to-reach areas.
The move has contributed to decentralisation of TB services at primary health care facilities, to ensure that priority groups have access to services at the closest point possible. While TB treatment and care is free in Zimbabwe, more than 80 percent of those in need of TB services face catastrophic costs in trying access these services. — @thamamoe
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter