Sat, 10 Jun 2017 09:49:04 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
THE high prevalence rate of tuberculosis among miners is of great concern and requires stakeholders’ concerted effort to reduce the scourge in the mines, says Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya.
Dr. Chilufya said the prevalence rate of tuberculosis among miners was as much as three to eight times higher than in the general population and called for a deliberate measure and focus on the mines to reduce the scourge.
He said this on Thursday in a speech read on his behalf by Ministry of Health permanent secretary Jabbin Mulwanda at the “Dissemination of TB in the mines: Situation analysis”.
Dr. Chilufya said the high prevalence rate of TB coupled with HIV of 11.2 percent as estimated by the Zambia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment study of 2016, ranked Zambia as one of the 30 high TB and TB/HIV burden countries in the world.
He said the situation called for affirmative action towards the TB control program as well as all stakeholders’ action.
“The prevalence rate of tuberculosis in miners is as much as three to eight times higher than the general population, hence the need for special attention in the mines,” Dr. Chilufya said.
Dr. Chilufya said tuberculosis had remained a public health challenge not only to miners but also surrounding communities, thereby the need to diagnose members of the community.
He said there was renewed calls for more diagnosis with increased health services being taken closer to the people.
And Ministry of Labour and Social Security chief inspector of factories George Kashinka commended the Ministry of Health on health measures implemented and expressed hope of more prudent measures to handle the problem.
