Botswana Reduces TB Mortality Rate

press release

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says Botswana is among the 147 United Nations member states that are committed to re-enforcing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as halt Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases by 2015. Speaking at the World TB Day commemorations in Francistown on Tuesday (March 24), Mr Masisi said one of the MDGs was to combat HIV, TB and Malaria and reverse incidences.

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says Botswana is among the 147 United Nations member states that are committed to re-enforcing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as halt Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases by 2015. Speaking at the World TB Day commemorations in Francistown on Tuesday (March 24), Mr Masisi said one of the MDGs was to combat HIV, TB and Malaria and reverse incidences. Mr Masisi said Botswana had made a commendable progress because although TB remained one of the infectious killer diseases, with the global deaths of 1.5 million annually, the country had managed to reduce TB mortality rate. He said the research had indicated that one third of the TB patients were HIV positive and noted that the government of Botswana's commitment to providing ARVs led to the control of not only HIV/AIDS but TB as well. Mr Masisi said, "quality health service is key to a more compassionate, just and caring, which is not only in line with the MDGs but the National Vision 2016 as well." The Vice President said government had made TB treatment accessible to all and it was estimated that 10 000 new cases of TB were recorded annually. He said though the country has made strides in the fight against the disease there are still challenges such as the emerging Multi Drug Resistance (MDR TB), which needs complicated treatment as one of them.

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