Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ZIMBABWE’S fight against tuberculosis has received a major boost, with district hospitals now conducting drug-resistant TB tests closer to communities.
In Nyanga, the new system is cutting waiting times and giving patients quicker access to life-saving treatment.
Across the country, TB testing is moving closer to the people. Here at Nyanga District Hospital, even drug-resistant cases are now being diagnosed within the district, cutting weeks of waiting and giving patients a faster chance at life-saving treatment.
Where samples once travelled long distances to provincial or national laboratory and results could take months, patients can now receive molecular testing and results within hours or days, allowing clinicians to start the right treatment much sooner, a move welcomed by patients.
“The machines here are working perfectly, and now we no longer have to wait for weeks to get results. I had my full blood count tests done when I wanted to have my caesarean section, and they came back the following day, which is good,” a Nyanga resident said.
“If you come to this hospital, you are guaranteed that you will get your treatment quickly because for any tests, you get your results either that day or the following day,” another added.
Health workers confirm that decentralisation is already transforming health care delivery in line with the national target to achieve universal health coverage.
“At Nyanga District Hospital, we have a machine which tests TB, drug-resistant TB. This machine also gives treatment options for the type of TB after testing, and this is helping our patients. Before this machine, we would take samples to Harare and the results would even take up to 4 months, but now, the results will be out in 24 hours,” District Medical Laboratory Scientist, Mr Masiwa Musuka noted.
The country’s laboratories are undergoing full digitalisation, a development that is ensuring patients receive their results much faster and more efficiently.
“Digitalising is happening across all our laboratories in the country, and like here at Nyanga, we have managed to digitalise our laboratory. All our tests are now being managed by the laboratory information management system. For example, when samples are collected, laboratory test requests are collected at other clinics deeper in the rural areas, and they are then captured in the laboratory management system. Results delivery has now changed as they are being delivered through sms or email, which is assisting us as a province. We are now having a quicker turnaround time when results are delivered,” Provincial Laboratory Information Management Officer, Mr Kudzai Goredema said.
Decentralised TB testing is now bringing critical services closer to communities and strengthening the fight against drug-resistant TB.
