The Assistant Minister of Health, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, has said that it is evident that the TB epidemic remains a public health emergency that threatens the lives of people.
He was addressing the “partners funding for TB Control” at the Grand Palm Hotel.
“There are plans to open the 6th treatment initiation site in Molepolole before the end of this year,” he said.
Matlhabaphiri further said it is worth noting, however, that the cost of care for MDR TB patients is comparatively higher, hence the reason why all efforts should be geared towards investing more on preventing Drug resistant TB than its treatment.
He explained that the Global Fund had disbursed more than US $6 million towards TB control and the funding opportunity “has been a lifeline in our national TB response”.
Matlhabaphiri said Botswana is the hardest hit in the region, ranking 6th in the World in terms of TB burden per capita, with close to 70 percent of TB patients in our country co-infected with HIV.
He described TB as the most common opportunistic infection among people living with HIV, saying the preventable disease still continues to cause havoc among millions afflicted by the disease.
“In 2009, Botswana confirmed close to 150 cases of drug resistant TB nationwide; it is, however, re-assuring that more and more treatment centres are being opened throughout the country to offer specialized care for those infected with MDR-TB,” said Matlhabaphiri.
He added that cases of drug resistant TB have climbed by 12 fold over the years, from as low as 0.2 percent in 1996 to 2.5 percent in 2008 among new TB patients.
Matlhabaphiri also said they (Ministry) have been able to conduct several surveys to estimate and track the burden of drug resistant TB.
Currently, the grant is supporting the scale up of Community TB care through community based organizations.
Matlhabaphiri indicated progress as he stated that TB patients no longer have to make daily trips to a health facility to take their medication, but now have the option of taking their medication either at home, at the work place or school, which-ever is most convenient, with the support of Community based organizations and community volunteers. He said that unless we (public) mobilize our own local resources to deal with our own health issues, any gains achieved in our national response could rapidly be eroded.
He added that there is no doubt that there is a very strong political will to contain TB in this country.
“My government spent just over P40 million on TB drug procurement and other priority TB program activities,” Matlhabaphiri announced, adding that it is disturbing that in Botswana, each year, TB claims close to a 1000 lives.
“It just does not sound right,” he said.
Matlhabaphiri assured all Batswana that every Pula pledged to this cause shall be a Pula well spent, and shall count in preventing the next death from TB.
