LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-As Malawi will join the rest of the world in commemorating World TB day on March 24, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination Programme (NTLEP) has revealed that the disease is killing 4, 500 people daily globally
About 30 000 people are reportedly fall ill of TB preventable and curable disease.
In a statement signed by Secretary for Health, Samson Mndolo disclosed that Malawi has a prevalence rate of 334 per 100,000 populations according to the the Malawi Tuberculosis prevalence survey which is conducted every year.
Mndolo said according to the survey more men are affected than women and especially in urban than in rural areas.
“It is very unfortunate that the disease has lot of misconceptions and stigma associated with TB due to lack of awareness about the disease which threatens to derail efforts to eradicate the menace,” said Mndolo.
He said TB remains a global public health threat, killing more people globally than any other infectious disease.
Mndolo added that the world commemorates the World TB Day to build public awareness about tuberculosis as well as to recommit to the fight against the disease that has claimed a lot of lives since its discovery in 1882.
“With only six years to go before the year 2030, this year is critical as we have to really make huge steps towards ending TB.
“Government is committed to meet the expectations of its people by implementing the “World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy” which calls for a significant reduction in tuberculosis deaths, new tuberculosis cases as well as that no affected families face catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis,” Mndolo.
He therefore appealed to all leaders across the country to reach out to their community through public awareness, “We call upon the general public to seek medical care early when they experience any of the signs and symptoms including cough, fever, weight loss”.
This year’s World TB Day commemoration will be commemorated together with World Leprosy in Mulanje at Khaya Primary School Ground themed : “Yes We Can End TB! And For Leprosy is themed at “Beat Leprosy and it falls every fourth week of January every year.
