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Lovemore Chazingwa at PATCHWAY MINE
IN a concerted bid to rid the nation of the highly infectious tuberculosis bacterial infection and related deaths, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has embarked on a week-long intensive battle against the killer disease in Sanyati district.
The TB screening and testing exercise will be conducted across all parts of Sanyati.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care, National TB Control Programme in Mashonaland West province will be conducting Targeted Screening for Active TB in Sanyati District from May 14 to 20, 2024.
“A mobile X-ray truck will be on-site on the listed days,” said the Ministry in a public communiquè.
Screening is a vetting process to find what one can be tested for.
The actual testing follows thereafter.
High-risk populations are encouraged to visit the screening and testing centres.
The high-risk groups include people living in congregate settings like mining compounds, informal settlements and overcrowded areas.
Close TB contact persons refers to those living or working with someone who is diagnosed with active TB.
The other segments, among high-risk populations, are people living with HIV, malnourished children, elderly persons above the age of 65, prisoners, ex-prisoners, and prison workers.
Tobacco smokers, mine workers and former mine workers, health workers, diabetic patients, and those previously treated for TB also fall within the high-risk demography.
Test results are available on-site.
Those first screened can then be tested for either TB or HIV or both.
The official said, a patient is administered initial TB medication and then, referred to their preferred convenient health centre of convenience for further administration.
This program is being conducted at Ingezi, Pathway Mine, Sanyati Arda Business Centre, Chakari, Bluegrass, Glassgow, and in Rimuka.
Online Reporter