Drug-resistant TB worries mayor

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Wednesday August 25, 2010 00:00

Speaking at the on-going full council meeting in Francistown yesterday, Shadreck Nyeku revealed that out of the 261 patients who are on TB treatment in the city of Francistown, 10 of them are multi-drug resistance cases, while one is extreme drug resistance (X-DR).

'Tuberculosis infection is a major public health concern in our country and responsible for more than 10% of all institutional admissions and over five percent of out patients department attendances,' said the mayor.

According to Nyeku, TB is a leading health problem next to HIV/AIDS, noting that in an effective way to combat the situation, the government is using the Direct Observed Therapy short course, which he said is the most effective strategy in tuberculosis control.

He however indicated that the occurrence of multi drug resistance cases could be due to some contributing factors such as transport costs and long distances for patients, lack of family and community support as well as defaulters not reported on time at the health facilities due to staff shortages.

He said: 'The government has come up with a concept of community TB care strategy, whereby the patient will be given treatment at home by a community or family member.

It has been realized that the family and the community play a major role in expanding the daily observed therapy strategy to as close to the patient as possible.'

Further, Nyeku said the department is in the process of strengthening the implementation of the strategy by training community leaders to solicit support.

On the just ended AH1N1 campaign, he said it has been a success since its purpose was to prevent the epidemic in the country. He stated that a total population covered for phase one and two is 15, 623.