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Cases of Tuberculosis (TB) a reported to be on a decrease in Chiapata district of Eastern Province.
Chipata District Commissioner (DC), Kalunga Zulu, says TB cases in the district have slightly reduced by six from 780 in 2011 to 774 in 2012.
However, Mr Zulu stated that the figures were still an indication that the district has not been spared from the problem of tuberculosis.
He was speaking at this year’s TB Commemoration, whose theme is “Stop TB in my Life,” held at Chiparamba Rural Health Centre in Chief Mishoro’s area yesterday.
“The good news is that the TB cure rate seems to have increased from 78 per cent in 2011 to 82 per cent in 2012. The TB mortality rate also seems to have reduced from 7 per cent in 2011 to 6 per cent in 2012,” he said.
Mr Zulu noted that government remained committed to stop TB, adding that it was for this reason that all Primary Health Care services (PHC) were free of charge to all Zambians.
He reminded that TB and HIV and AIDS services – drugs inclusive – were equally free of charge at all levels of health care in Zambia, hence the need for people to take advantage of the government’s health policy on TB, HIV and AIDS and other services as by so doing the communities would be able to easily stop TB.
“Despite its devastating effects, TB can be cured and stopped in our life time, but this calls for us, as individuals and groups, to put our efforts together and commit ourselves to stop TB in line with the theme,” he added.
And speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Chief Mishoro of the Ngoni people urged his subjects to take advantage of the free access to medical serves put in place by government to test for the disease.
Chief Mishoro stated that occasions were rare when such functions were held in rural areas, hence the need to take advantage of the information and work with the medical staff whose positive yields could be attained with the involvement of the community.
He said that there was need for people in the area to assist those that were suffering from TB to ensure that they adhere to treatment by making sure that TB patients take their drugs daily and correctly under the current Direct Observed Therapy Short (DOTS) course.
