The reports that the country is experiencing TB drug shortages is not only worrying, but surprising and ill timed. The drug shortages is an unfortunate issue when the WHO ranks Zimbabwe among a few countries that contribute between 80-85 percent of the global TB-HIV drug resistant cases. The prevalence of TB in Zimbabwe was 292 cases per 100 000 populations.
While the country has been doing massive TB screening campaigns, it is difficult to tell a patient to adhere on the other hand when there are stock outs. Zimbabwe’s TB case detection currently stands at 70 percent. The shortage of drugs for the past two months would expose patients to health complications, including the deadly and costly drug resistant tuberculosis (DR- TB) According to Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) is concerned that for the past two months TB patients have not been able to access the drugs, exposing them to health complications or even to the development of the deadly and costly drug resistant tuberculosis DR-TB.
“We are alarmed and disheartened that the country reaches a point of running out of TB drugs as if Zimbabwe is on auto-pilot with no functional government or health ministry that oversee that sector. TB is treatable “, said CWGH.
Approximately 30 000 people are currently on TB treatment in the country It is only depressing for a patient not to get drugs., but it has a catastrophic costs on both the patient and the country. TB is highly infectious and a killer disease.
“The stock outs undermine treatment compliance. Recent surveys indicate serious shortfall in TB drugs most pronounced at clinic level. The goal should be to ensure 95 percent availability of vital and essential drugs at clinic and district hospital level “; said CWGH.
Zimbabwe has over the years made remarkable progress in the response against TB and the stock out could reverse these gains. Bulk of TB funding in Zimbabwe comes from donor partners, with Global Fund availing the bulk of the fund.
In order to end TB in Zimbabwe, the government needs to eradicate poverty, reduce food insecurity, improve living and working conditions of its citizens as well promoting health diets and lifestyles. This is more pronounced in mining, plantations and farming communities where knowledge gaps are evident.
