Online Reporter
Mashudu Mambo, Gender and Health Reporter
GOVERNMENT has been urged to allocate more resources to combat Tuberculosis (TB), a disease that is preventable and treatable but continues to be the lead cause of death both globally and in Zimbabwe.
TB is considered an opportunistic infection that primarily affects individuals with weakened immune systems, including many who work in mines and farming communities.
Executive director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), Mr Itai Rusike, called upon the Government to invest more in the disease’s management as the world commemorated TB Day on March 24. “As we recognise World Tuberculosis Day, CWGH urges the Government to commit and channel more resources towards fighting this disease. This year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” boldly calls for renewed Governmental commitment to tackle TB and prioritises domestic resource mobilisation for the health sector. This is an urgent appeal to the Government,” he said.
Mr Rusike stressed the importance of investing in care services to effectively combat TB.
“Advancing our efforts in the fight against tuberculosis is essential for winning this battle. We need to provide targeted testing, treatment and care services to those in need.
“Our failure to invest in eliminating TB could lead to a serious national health crisis,” he added.
Mr Rusike pointed out that TB remains one of the most infectious diseases resulting in a high mortality rate.
“Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to be the leading infectious disease and ranks among the top ten causes of death worldwide. In 2023, approximately 10,8 million people were infected with TB globally, leading to 1,25 million deaths,” he noted.
The five-year, US$15,5 million Kunda-Nqob’iTB (KN-TB) Programme monitored by the Ministry of Health and Child Care concluded in September 2024 after reaching over 1,1 million people across eight priority districts in Zimbabwe.
In total, more than 1 000 community health workers supported the initiative, which significantly reduced TB incidence from 242 per 100 000 population to 204 per 100 000 by 2022.
In Bulawayo, health officials have reported 211 new TB cases this year.
The city operates 20 council clinics that provide free TB screenings, including symptom assessments, HIV testing and sputum collection.
Bulawayo City Council’s Health Services Director, Dr Edwin Sibanda-Mzingwane, said efforts are underway to eliminate TB by 2035.
“In 2024, Bulawayo recorded 1 245 TB cases and this year we have so far recorded 211 cases. While the city faces resource constraints, we are making progress towards ending TB by 2035.
“We are conducting targeted free TB screening at all our clinics,” he said.
