Mozambique: Nation Hit Hard by Tuberculosis

26 March 2011

Maputo — Mozambique’s Minister of Health, Alexandre Manguele, has called for more action to tackle the growing problem of tuberculosis.

Mozambique is one of the 22 countries worst hit by the illness and the Government has declared the disease a national emergency in an attempt to control the spread of the pandemic .

According to Manguele, tuberculosis, although a serious illness, is curable when diagnosed early and treated correctly. In Mozambique diagnosis and treatment is available in health centres free of charge.

Manguele was speaking on Thursday in Machava, in the southern city of Matola, where a ceremony took place marking World Tuberculosis Day.

It is estimated that more than half of the Mozambicans infected with tuberculosis also have HIV/AIDS. The Minister pointed out that “there is a strong association between tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and poverty. These three public health problems represent a serious threat to the well-being of our people”.

Manguele added that to tackle this serious problem the Ministry of Health is adopting strategies to offer an integrated diagnostic and treatment service.

One of these strategies consists of strengthening community involvement through using volunteers who are trained by the Ministry of Health to identify those suspected of having tuberculosis, take them to a health centre for diagnosis and ensure that the treatment is started early and continues throughout the six months until the patient is cured.

The slogan chosen for 2011, “on the move against tuberculosis”, is in direct response to the need to accelerate efforts to increase community participation and to boost research into rapid diagnostic tests and faster treatment regimens which are also effective against TB strains that are drug resistant.

In Mozambique the number of TB cases continues to grow. During the period 2007 to 2010 the number of new infections per year grew from 38,044 to 46,174.

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by various strains of mycobacteria, and is also known as Koch’s disease, after the German scientist who first identified the mycobacterium in 1882.

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