Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ADVOCACY groups for tuberculosis patients in Zimbabwe have welcomed the recent government action to secure a six-month supply of essential TB drugs, thereby alleviating shortage concerns.
The development comes after months of concern due to shortages of TB drugs at several public hospitals including in Harare and Chitungwiza, particularly medications like rifampicin and isoniazid.
The limited availability of these drugs had raised fears of setbacks in the country’s progress on reducing TB prevalence.
News of a stable supply have brought relief to patient advocacy groups.
“We want to urge the government to procure drugs in advance so that no one defaults. Imagine after being diagnosed with TB then you are told there is no medication. Many will see that as a death sentence, so if the drugs are readily available this will greatly assist us,” said the chairperson of a TB support group, Â Grace Rimayi.
“I want to urge anyone who is diagnosed with TB to religiously take their medication until the doctor tells you to stop when the disease has cleared. TB can be treated. It’s not a death sentence, but you need to religiously take your medicines,” a TB survivor, Ms Sarudzayi Chikomo said.
The Director AIDS and TB Programme in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Owen Mugurungi confirmed the positive development.
“So over the past few months, Zimbabwe has been experiencing a shortage of TB drugs, but we are happy to announce that as a ministry we have received stocks for the next six months which will alleviate that challenge.
“The facilities are receiving their TB medicines. People can now receive a month’s supply of their TB medicines instead of the one week, or three days they were receiving. The problem has been resolved and we hope this will go a long well in alleviating the challenges,” he said.
TB treatment and care is free in Zimbabwe, but despite being a preventable and curable disease, TB remains a significant public health threat.
Globally, 1.5 million people die from TB each year, making it the world’s top infectious killer.
In Zimbabwe alone, 18 200 people fell ill with TB in 2022, with 242 cases of drug-resistant TB reported.
