LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-First lady ,Monica Chakwera who is also Malawi’s TB Ambassador has called on all stakeholders to join hands in fight against TB and Leprosy.
The first lady made the remarks in Lilongwe at Mgona ground in area 25 during TB and Leprosy commemoration day which falls every March 24 every Year.
Madame Chakwera said regardless the country making strides in eliminating the diseases there is need to keep fighting to reach a zero percent rate.
She said Government is committed to meet the expectations of its people by implementing the WHO End TB Strategy by 2030 .
She therefore calls for a significant reduction in tuberculosis deaths that new tuberculosis cases and affected families do not face catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis.
Minister of Health Khumbize Chipinda said the country has made strides as every hospital has a screening machines for TB.
According to Chiponda, leprosy is an ancient illness that requires further investigation as there are still cases registered in the country.
“As a country, we are doing better in eliminating TB and Leprosy with the mobile vans clinic, where most people are able to undergo screening,” said Chiponda.
In his remarks,World Health Organization(WHO) representative, Neema Kimambo commends Malawi for the significant progress in controlling TB with
high treatment success rates of 90% for drug-sensitive TB patients since 2020.
Kimambo said Malawi’s successful integration of TB and HIV services, and improved access to shorter, more effective drug-resistant TB treatment regimens.
She said In Malawi, the TB incidence in 2023, was estimated to be approximately 119 cases per 100,000 population, reflecting a slight decline (40% change from 2015) in recent years due to enhanced prevention, detection, and treatment programs.
She added that Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.
Each day, over 3,400 people lose their lives to TB, and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
“TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance and there is need for stand up against TB stigma and discrimination and misinformation as well as myth,” said Kimambo
She stated that WHO is commitment to continue supporting Malawi in achieving the End TB Strategy targets and maintaining the elimination of leprosy.
This year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” is a bold call for hope, urgency, and accountability.
