Sue Ryder Foundation vows to fight TB
The foundation’s country grants manager Anthony Chilembwe said this at Banda Primary School in Ntcheu on Saturday when Malawi joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Stop TB Day under the theme ‘Stop TB in my life time’.
Although the country has registered a decrease in TB death rate from 20 percent in 2003 to eight percent in 2010, the disease is still a public health problem as it affects the highly productive age group in the country.
The organisation, which works in Balaka and Ntcheu, opened 13 community sputum collection points in the Bwanje Valley area in Ntcheu. According to the district health office, the area has high TB cases.
“Our aim is to make TB in the country a thing of the past. We will ensure that TB services are found within the community reach. We are proud to say that, so far, we have treated 65 patients who were diagnosed TB positive,†said Chilembwe.
Group Village Head Makwangwala commended Sue Ryder for bringing health services close to the people.
He asked people in the area to go for testing for TB when they cough for more than two weeks.
