Zambia Improves TB Cure Rate; Increases Funding for Measures To Fight TB

The cure rate for tuberculosis in Zambia improved from 64% to 73% in the past year, Health Minister Brian Chituwo said on Wednesday, Zambia's Post/AllAfrica.com reports. In addition, Chituwo said that 81% of all types of TB are being detected in the country, a rate that is higher than the 70% target set by the World Health Organization. However, the number of TB cases in the country has increased nearly fivefold over the past decade, he added. Chituwo said the main cause of the increase in the number of TB cases is co-infection with HIV, which demonstrates the need for TB/HIV prevention and treatment efforts (Chakwe, Post/AllAfrica.com, 3/16). The Zambian government is planning to increase funding in each of the country's 75 districts from about $10,500 to almost $74,000 for TB support programs, the Angola Press Agency reports. In addition, the government has adopted a less-complicated DOTS treatment strategy, which involves patients taking fewer medications daily, according to the Angola Press Agency (Angola Press Agency, 3/16). In order to help health professionals reach patients in rural areas for support supervision and follow-up evaluations, the Ministry of Health has obtained 51 motorbikes and six boats. The health ministry also has implemented a system to ensure that the country has access to a continuous supply of anti-TB drugs for the next four years (Post/AllAfrica.com, 3/16). Zambia in 2004 diagnosed about 58,000 TB patients (Angola Press Agency, 3/16).