Mobility challenges hamper tuberculosis fight in Ntcheu

Lack of bicycles to help volunteers collect sputum in villages and submit to health facilities is frustrating the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Ntcheu District, it has emerged.

The challenge came to light on Tuesday during a media tour of Kanyimbo Sputum Collection Point (SCP) in Traditional Authority  Njolomole in the district, which National TB and Leprosy Elimination Programme (NTLEP) organised for journalists to appreciate the progress of TB and leprosy fight.

This is in-line with the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO) target of ending TB and leprosy threats by 2030.

“We are finding it difficult to go around the communities to collect sputum and submit them to Biriwiri Health Centre because we only have one bicycle,” said Margaret Bowa, a volunteer.

She said their work gets more complicated when it comes to reaching out to distant villages during the rainy season.

“We fail to serve other communities during the rainy season. If we had more bicycles to help us reach those people, it would be better,” said Bowa.

Her colleague Lazarus Langishoni added that they also need branded T-shirts and bags to give them visibility and carry samples as they go to the hospital.

“We want people to easily identify us. We also want materials to help us keep the samples,” he said.

Biriwiri Health Centre health surveillance assistant Gloria Chigoga said the volunteers are in critical need of the bicycles because their jurisdiction is far from the health facility.

Chigoga, however, commended the volunteers as critical agents in the TB fight, saying since they started their work in 2011, they have done tremendous work.