With passion and enthusiasm to reach, treat and cure those suffering Tuberculosis (TB), Paradiso TB Patient Trust (P TB PT), and a health local organization, has intensified sensitization campaign on the disease to hard reach areas by opening a number of TB registration sites.
On Wednesday, May 20, the organization opened a new site at Nkhongoni health centre at Traditional Authority (T.A) Nkhongoni in Lilongwe rural as one way of reaching the communities to access health services on TB which still remains one killer’s disease in Malawi.
According to 2008 National Statistics Office (NSO) Population and Demographic survey revealed that Lilongwe as a district has over 2 million people that out of that figure only 4,000 were diagnosed with Tuberculosis meaning large number of people especially in the rural areas are left out on treatment hence the coming of P TB PT.
Speaking in an interview with Maravi Post after opening TB registration site at Nkhongoni health centre, Mara Kum’bweza Banda, P TB PT Executive Director expressed gratitude for the opening of the new site saying will ease transport cost and time patients were taking to access the disease’s treatment at Kabudula health centre which is about 18 kms far from TA Nkhongoni.
Kum’bweza Banda also said the donation of MK120, 000 her organization made to one of the successful TB club namely Nkhongoni will boost the club’s operation services to reach more people as to visit the newly opened site for treatment.
“Our dreams have come true with the opening of the new site which will provide all health services TB patients need. This will also ease patients a long distance and time were taking to access services on the disease.
“To support the health facility fully as it works closely with Nkhongoni health centre TB club, we have also donated MK120,000 to help club sustaining its income generating activities with the aim to reach more patients and those wanting to test for TB”, delighted Kum’bweza Banda.
Speaking after receiving the donation on the behave of the club which has 16 members, Agnes George assured the organization that the money would be used for intended purpose saying plans were already under way to open a bakery which according to group was needed much in the area that would generate enough money for the clubs smooth operation.
In his remarks, after receiving the new site on behave of Lilongwe District Health Officer (DHO), William Ntonga, who is Lilongwe TB coordinator said opening of the TB registration site came at a right time when the DHO required the facility to hasten and improve better treatment to patients on the disease.
“Lilongwe has over 2 million people that we are only able assisting 4,000 patients, meaning, many people especially in the rural areas are left out and dying silently. Therefore, the opening of the facility will ease our workload in other health facilities which offer the same services.
“All necessary measures are put in place in managing the facility for it to continue serving the general public who have been looking for its coming. It has shown that Paradiso is a trusted partner in this noble course of easing TB patient’s pain”, pleased Ntonga.
Paradiso TB Patients Trust with the aim to reach, treat and cure those suffering Tuberculosis especially in hard reach areas, was established in 2000 and got registered in 2003. Currently, the organisation is operating in Lilongwe, Mchinji, Dedza and Dowa districts as plans are still under way to scale up its activities to other districts across Malawi with main funding from Lung and Heart Association in Norway.
