DURING commemoration of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day yesterday, Minister of Health Elijah Muchima disclosed through permanent secretary Kennedy Lishimpi that 20 people die of TB every week and 5,000 annually in Zambia.
This revelation highlights a significant public health crisis chiefly triggered by citizens not screening for TB and seeking treatment early.
It reflects the severe impact of the disease on the population and points to systemic challenges, such as insufficient awareness and delayed diagnoses.
This statistic underscores the need for international collaboration in combating the disease, especially given the ambitious goal to end TB globally by 2030.
These numbers highlight the urgent need for robust advocacy and a collective effort to combat this preventable and treatable disease. It is sobering yet crucial data that can steer effective interventions.
It is unfortunate that there are such alarming statistics when the country is actively implementing several measures to combat TB, aiming to reduce its prevalence and achieve the global goal.
Zambia has developed comprehensive plans, such as National TB Strategic Plan, which focuses on early detection, treatment, and prevention of TB.
These plans emphasise scaling up high-quality TB services and expanding laboratory networks to improve access to care.
The country has introduced updated guidelines for managing drug-resistant TB, including shorter treatment regimens and community-based care models. This approach improves treatment adherence and outcomes.
Efforts are also being made to reduce stigma and myths surrounding TB through advocacy campaigns and community engagement.
This includes the launch of strategies like National Tuberculosis Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation Strategy.
These measures reflect Zambia’s commitment to tackling TB and improving health outcomes for its population.
It is also unfortunate that about 12,000 people are living with TB without seeking treatment, spreading the killer ailment in communities.
We say unfortunate because untreated TB creates profound challenges for public health systems, amplifying both direct and indirect consequences.
Individuals with untreated TB continue to spread the infection, especially in densely populated areas. This accelerates outbreaks and makes containment efforts more difficult, straining resources.
TB has a profound impact on Zambia’s efforts towards economic growth, creating challenges that ripple across multiple sectors.
The disease disproportionately affects individuals in their most economically active years.
As people fall ill, productivity declines due to absenteeism, disability, or premature deaths, which in turn reduces overall labour output.
Resources allocated to TB prevention, treatment, and management consume a significant portion of Zambia’s health budget.
While necessary, these expenses divert funds from other areas critical to economic development.
We urge the 12,000 people living with untreated TB to quickly seek treatment, while those who do not know their TB status must regularly screen for the disease.
Screening for TB and seeking timely treatment are crucial for both individual health and public well-being.
TB is most effectively treated in its early stages. Screening helps identify the disease before it causes severe health complications or spreads to others.
Early detection reduces the risk of developing drug-resistant TB, which is harder and more expensive to treat.
TB is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Screening identifies infectious individuals, enabling isolation and treatment to break the chain of transmission within communities.
Once TB is detected, adhering to the full treatment regimen is vital. TB is curable, but incomplete treatment can lead to relapse, drug resistance, and continued spread.
Education, awareness, and reducing stigma around TB are also essential to encourage people to seek care.
Screening for TB, seeking treatment vital
DURING commemoration of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day yesterday, Minister of Health Elijah Muchima disclosed through permanent secretary Kennedy Lishimpi that 20 people die of TB every week and 5,000 annually in Zambia.
This revelation highlights a significant public health crisis chiefly triggered by citizens not screening for TB and seeking treatment early.
It reflects the severe impact of the disease on the population and points to systemic challenges, such as insufficient awareness and delayed diagnoses.
This statistic underscores the need for international collaboration in combating the disease, especially given the ambitious goal to end TB globally by 2030.
These numbers highlight the urgent need for robust advocacy and a collective effort to combat this preventable and treatable disease. It is sobering yet crucial data that can steer effective interventions.
It is unfortunate that there are such alarming statistics when the country is actively implementing several measures to combat TB, aiming to reduce its prevalence and achieve the global goal.
Zambia has developed comprehensive plans, such as National TB Strategic Plan, which focuses on early detection, treatment, and prevention of TB.
These plans emphasise scaling up high-quality TB services and expanding laboratory networks to improve access to care.
The country has introduced updated guidelines for managing drug-resistant TB, including shorter treatment regimens and community-based care models. This approach improves treatment adherence and outcomes.
Efforts are also being made to reduce stigma and myths surrounding TB through advocacy campaigns and community engagement.
This includes the launch of strategies like National Tuberculosis Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation Strategy.
These measures reflect Zambia’s commitment to tackling TB and improving health outcomes for its population.
It is also unfortunate that about 12,000 people are living with TB without seeking treatment, spreading the killer ailment in communities.
We say unfortunate because untreated TB creates profound challenges for public health systems, amplifying both direct and indirect consequences.
Individuals with untreated TB continue to spread the infection, especially in densely populated areas. This accelerates outbreaks and makes containment efforts more difficult, straining resources.
TB has a profound impact on Zambia’s efforts towards economic growth, creating challenges that ripple across multiple sectors.
The disease disproportionately affects individuals in their most economically active years.
As people fall ill, productivity declines due to absenteeism, disability, or premature deaths, which in turn reduces overall labour output.
Resources allocated to TB prevention, treatment, and management consume a significant portion of Zambia’s health budget.
While necessary, these expenses divert funds from other areas critical to economic development.
We urge the 12,000 people living with untreated TB to quickly seek treatment, while those who do not know their TB status must regularly screen for the disease.
Screening for TB and seeking timely treatment are crucial for both individual health and public well-being.
TB is most effectively treated in its early stages. Screening helps identify the disease before it causes severe health complications or spreads to others.
Early detection reduces the risk of developing drug-resistant TB, which is harder and more expensive to treat.
TB is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Screening identifies infectious individuals, enabling isolation and treatment to break the chain of transmission within communities.
Once TB is detected, adhering to the full treatment regimen is vital. TB is curable, but incomplete treatment can lead to relapse, drug resistance, and continued spread.
Education, awareness, and reducing stigma around TB are also essential to encourage people to seek care.