Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
MYTHS and misconceptions among parents have been identified as a significant obstacle to achieving successful tuberculosis treatment outcomes in children.
The story of Sibotshiwe Sibanda, a 61-year-old two-time TB survivor, highlights the impact of myths and misconceptions on TB treatment.
She was first diagnosed with TB at the age of seven, and her parents sought assistance from traditionalists, believing that a spell had been cast on their daughter.
Sibanda’s experience is not unique to her, many parents in Zimbabwe hold misconceptions about TB, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
“I was diagnosed with TB at the age of seven. When I got sick my parents took me to a traditionalist and I stayed there for over two months,” Sibanda said.
However, with proper treatment and acceptance, TB can be overcome.
Sibanda’s second diagnosis with pulmonary TB in 2000 was successfully treated, thanks to her acceptance of the condition and advances in medication.
“In 2000, I was diagnosed again with TB. After being diagnosed, the biggest thing that led me to win was accepting my condition,” she said.
The government’s introduction of advanced TB medication and reducing the number of tablets patients take from 14-16 to just 3-4, is seen as a significant step towards reducing stigma around the disease, according to TB survivors.
“I remember back in the day we used to take about 14 tablets. Most patients used to hide some of their medication cause it was very difficult to swallow them,” another survivor, Deric Moyo said.
“It was not just an issue of tablets. It was also the issue of injections. The injections were also too many. So, the treatment journey was a very difficult one, and most people would end up defaulting,” survivor, Stanley Sibanda added.
Director of Rehabilitation and Prevention of Tuberculosis (RAPT) in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mr Freddy Mutsvayiro emphasised the importance of empowering TB survivors to share their stories and educate communities.
“People have a lot of misconceptions and myths associated with the disease. We do this through empowering TB champions,” Mr Mutsvayiro said.
Despite being preventable and treatable, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in Zimbabwe, with addressing myths and misconceptions being crucial to effectively combating the disease.
