Published by the government of Zimbabwe
31 March 2008
Harare — THE World Health Organisation has called for increased testing and counselling services for tuberculosis patients, citing the high levels of the disease and HIV co-infection in the country.
In a statement released to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day celebrated annually on March 24, WHO said 68 percent of adult TB patients in the country are infected with HIV and Aids.
"Increases were particularly noted in countries where HIV prevalence is high. In Zimbabwe, collaborative TB
and HIV activities are beginning to gain ground.
"TB patients will be offered HIV counselling and testing on an increased basis this year," WHO spokesperson Mrs Dorothy Mtemeli said.
She said in Zimbabwe, which is among the 22 most burdened countries in the world, about 50 000 cases of TB were recorded in 2006.
Mrs Mtemeli said Zimbabwe, among other countries, was far from achieving the global targets for controlling TB in the region.
According to the targets, countries should attain a 70 percent case detection rate and 85 percent treatment success.
However, Mrs Mtemeli said Zimbabwe had so far recorded a 54 percent cure rate and 41 percent case detection.
She said the country also recorded a 12 percent and 14 percent defaulter and deaths rates compared to 5 percent for both.
Only 10 countries in the world have achieved a 70 percent case detection rate while eight attained an 85 percent treatment success rate.
"WHO will continue to support Zimbabwe by providing technical support to promote and ensure the scaling up of effective TB control interventions.
"Such efforts will reduce suffering and death from an old, prevailing disease that is curable," Mrs Mtemeli said.
She said a number of multi-drug-resistant TB goes undetected in most countries in Southern Africa because of lack of diagnostic capacity.
This year's World TB Day commemorations ran under the theme "I am stopping TB".
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