Dedza district tuberculosis officer Tenyson Kaunda has disclosed that the district is making remarkable progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and is on track to eliminate it as a public health threat by 2030.
Speaking on Wednesday in Salima on the sidelines of a bi-annual meeting organised by the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme (Ntlep) for journalists in the country, Kaunda said Dedza has seen a significant improvement in TB treatment outcomes.
about TB: Kaunda. I
Ayamba Kandodo
“Our treatment success rate currently stands at 94 percent, while the death rate has dropped to 4 percent. This is an improvement compared to two years ago, when the treatment success rate was 92 percent and the death rate was 8 percent,” he said.
The meeting aimed at reviewing progress in the fight against TB and leprosy, discuss challenges, and formulate strategies for further action.
Malawi, with support from various development partners, is among the countries committed to eradicating TB and leprosy by 2030.
The World Health Organis Organisation (WHO) has also set this target globally. Kaunda noted that the district currently manages about 600 TB patients, including those with multi-drug resistant TB, and that most are responding well to treatment.
He attributed the success to the vital role played by community volunteers and the use of mobile screening vans.
“Volunteers travel throughout villages to collect sputum samples for early diagnosis, while mobile vans provide screening services in hard-to-reach areas, including border posts where even people coming from Mozambique are screened,” said Kaunda.
He added that the vans also visit TB hotspots across the district, contributing to timely identification and treatment of cases.
But Kaunda expressed concern over per s i s tent my ths and misconceptions surrounding TB.
“In many communities, TB is still associated with HIV, which discourages people from seeking medical help,” he said.
During the meeting, Ntlep deputy programme manager Tisungane Mwenyenkulu also hailed the country’s progress in the fight against TB and leprosy.
“If we maintain our current momentum, Malawi is wel l-positioned to eliminate the two diseases by 2030. However, we must continue implementing key interventions and intensify media efforts to keep the public informed,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of fellow journalists, Tamanda Matebule from Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) pledged continued media coverage of TB and leprosy.
“We appreciate Ntlep’s engagement with the media. These gatherings equip us with knowledge and motivation to do more,” he said.
During the meeting, Ntlep raised concerns about the recent aid cuts by the US government to the health sector, lamenting that the move will negatively impact efforts to combat TB and leprosy in the country if alternatives or mitigation measures are not devised.
