Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
MORE than 40 percent of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Zimbabwe are unaware of their status, highlighting a critical gap in disease awareness.
Despite global efforts, TB remains a significant threat, even in other regions. Zimbabwe is among the 30 high-burden countries, and drug-resistant TB poses challenges to achieving eradication goals.
The Union TB Trust, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has trained 1 000 community health workers. These dedicated individuals play a crucial role in screening for TB across the country. They actively engage with communities, encouraging public participation in screening and promptly referring symptomatic individuals to clinics for early treatment.
“As Union Zimbabwe Trust we have different programmes such as Kunda/Nqobi TB that have been implemented after we got US$15 million to help the ministry in the fight against TB. We wish to extend our gratitude to community health workers as we have a network of almost 1 000 workers who educate communities, refer those with symptoms to clinics and do much of mobilising to ensure everyone knows about the disease,” said an official.
“As a country, we have yearly targets that we set in line with WHO and in 2022 it was estimated that we have over 30 000 people with TB but we managed to find over 18 000 and we need to screen and put them into treatment. This means we have another 15 000 or so people yet to be screened and put on treatment which means work must be done in our communities to ensure everyone with TB starts treatment.”
Mr Itai Rusike, the director of the Community Working Group on Health, emphasised that despite being one of the world’s leading infectious killer diseases, TB can be effectively addressed in Zimbabwe. The country possesses lifesaving tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
To achieve further victories in the fight against TB, it is crucial to break down barriers and inequities that contribute to the suffering and loss of millions of lives each year. By doing so, Zimbabwe can continue its progress in combating this formidable disease.
“Inequity is the biggest barrier to ending TB, often those living in poverty or with environmental risk factors, can face catastrophic costs to access diagnosis and treatment.
“Scaling up progress in the fight against TB is crucial to win the battle against this disease.
“We must bring focused testing, treatment and care services to the people who most need them,” he said.
“When we fight TB, we fight other deadly diseases and prepare for the next pandemic.
“The same lab workers, diagnostic machines, supply chains, primary health care facilities, disease surveillance capabilities and community health workers that fight TB prepare the world for future health threats.”
Online Reporter