MDR-TB, a challenge to Government efforts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
However a constant threat to government's efforts remains the co-existence of tuberculosis TB and HIV, as it is very difficult to treat people infected with both.
Normally a person diagnosed with HIV, but not yet sick to qualify for ARV treatment is placed on TB treatment to prevent latent TB - to help strengthen their immunity to the TB antigen. In line with World Health Organisation and Botswana government standard people found to be HIV positive are put on Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (TB treatment) for six months. Failure to complete the treatment may result in a strain of TB that is more difficult to treat, called Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB). This, according to the Ministry of health, has become the latest challenge to government's overall health initiatives. This is because MDR-TB, is resistant to isoniazid and refampicin, two drugs used in the treatment of TB.
Sadly, the country seems not to have proper tools and the extent to which women and the girl-child are being abused is not adequately measured.Almost every week there are reports of women being attacked by their significant others and while men are attacked as well, women seem to be more on the receiving end.On May 24, 2023 news broke that a woman who was receiving support from the Botswana Gender-Based Violence Prevention Centre in Gaborone, was...