According to Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS), there is need to link tuberculosis and the deadly HIV in order not only to stop stigmatization, but also to raise awareness among the public on the deadly effects of the illnesses. Speaking at a media briefing that was held in Harare, the organisation’s Research Officer, Joshua Chigodora, said that there was need for the media to appreciate the link between the two diseases whose combination can be lethal.
“People living with TB are generally poor and sometimes have to walk long distances to get medical attention, At the hospital people are made to pay for the card which can be at least US$5.00 and that is against the government policy,” said Chigodoro. Chigodoro said that the situation was compounded by the fact that hospitals in the country were lagging behind in TB testing equipment and the situation was worsened because of lack of commitment from aid organisations.
“There are about 700 organisations in the country that are dealing with HIV/AIDS but none that places emphasis on TB which is treatable but deadly if untreated and linked with HIV/AIDS. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 11.4 million people worldwide are infected with both tuberculosis and HIV.
Post published in: News