By Kuda Pembere
The Kunda/Nqobi TB (KNTB) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) comes to a close at a time beneficiaries are still drooling for more having screened over 1 million Zimbabweans since 2019.
The USAID injected US$15 million for this project implemented by The Union Zimbabwe Trust (UZT) in partnership with Baines Occupational Health Services, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Zimbabwe and Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO).
Addressing the close out ceremony in Harare, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy, Hon. Sleiman Kwidini said the close-out ceremony provides a chance to count the gains achieved over the past five years.
“On one hand, this engagement is an opportunity to collectively reflect on the positive achievements made and opportunities created through the KNTB project. TB and Occupational health as well as palliative care efforts are worth mentioning. This coupled with building capacity and strengthening the laboratory services among other achievements.
“Over and above the support directly rendered to the eight districts, my Ministry us aware of the support that the project has been consistently offering at strategic, policy and guidance level and Health Ministry appreciates the contributions made. The gains made shall permanently be on record as having moved the Zimbabwe TB control agenda,” he said.
He also said efforts have been made in reducing the TB burden over the years through the Health Ministry working with its partners.
“TB is one of the major public health problems in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is in the top 30 list of high burden countries for MDR-TB as well as TB and HIV. It is also on the World Health Organization list of countries on the watchlist in terms of the TB burden.
“Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has been making concerted efforts towards the fight against TB over the years. With these realities in front of us, there is need for continued concerted efforts towards fighting controlling and ending TB epidemic. Efforts continue to be made towards using program tested and newer methods and approaches to TB control efforts.
“This includes among others, new diagnostics, new regimens, new digital technologies and artificial intelligence for the TB response. This cannot be successfully done without the engagement of those affected by TB, communities and civil society organization playing the part in the movement towards ending this disease,” said the Health Minister Mombeshora.
He added, “There are several key areas to focus on such as financial needs to scale up implementation and speed up research and development of new tools including a new TB vaccine, access to rapid diagnosis and to new shorter and more efficient treatment regimens, TB prevention, TB in children, strengthening and funding communities, rights and gender work.
“Urgent investment of resources for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and information is vital to winning the fight against TB by saving millions more lives and accelerating the end of the TB epidemic.”
USAID Mission Director for Zimbabwe Janean Davis commended the KNTB program for achieving such as huge milestone of screening about 1.1 million people.
“Let us take a moment to highlight some of our proudest accomplishments. In the eight districts supported by the KNTB program over the past five years, we have made significant strides. One million one hundred thousand people, fathers, mothers and children are now better equipped to protect themselves and their loved ones from TB. They are no longer just statistics; they are individuals whose lives are changed forever by the work our partners have done,” she said.
She also commended the KNTB implementors for coming up with innovations such as the TB stamp strategy which increased TB detection by 25 percent.
WHO representative to Zimbabwe Dr Desta Tiruneh in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Mkhokheli Ngwenya said Zimbabwe is far from ending TB by 2025
“As we take stock and reflect on the achievements and what still needs to be done in the fight to end TB in Zimbabwe, we need to remember that our achievements still fall short of the 2025 End TB Strategy targets of 75% reduction of TB deaths, 50% of reduction in TB incidence and zero percent of TB-affected families facing catastrophic costs due to TB.
“Challenges such as delayed diagnosis, limited access to new tools and technologies, and the ongoing threat of multi-drug resistant TB require continued vigilance and sustained efforts. Furthermore, we must prioritize addressing the social determinants of TB, such as poverty, inequality, and limited access to healthcare, to achieve sustainable outcomes,” he said.
The UZT executive director Dr Ronald Ncube said amongst the other achievements made since 2019 were to double the TB notification rates.
He said they also trained over 3 600 health care workers in Drug Resistant TB, Childhood TB and making sense of TB data.
“The other area of concern is the DR-TB, we’re still also equally missing quite a lot. Only one in five are being detected according to WHO and we also have concerning trends in terms of their outcomes,” he said.
A representative of artisanal miners said this program should continue as most members of his constituency sought TB screening, testing and treatment.
