The East African Tribune

Mbale Boss Blames TB Persistence on Government

July 28th, 2008

Joseph Malinga

Mbale LCV chairperson has blamed the persistence of Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV/Aids in Uganda on government’s failure to take the health of Ugandans as a priority.
Mr Bernard Mujasi said it is not that the government has no capacity to handle the situation but that the government simply misdirects its priorities.

“There is misdirection of priorities on the side of government. How can we talk of hitting the target when we can not inject money in buying microscopes in health centers III? How will the TB cases be detected? The health workers are not getting paid yet they are the ones working hard to save lives,” Mujasi said.

He said whereas government spent billions of money to host CHOGM most of which, ended up repairing the roads that have already deteriorated within months, it is reluctant to inject money in the health of Ugandans.

Mujasi was speaking at the World TB Day national celebrations held at cricket grounds in Mbale. He said giving good speeches would not save the country from epidemics that are claiming lives every day.

“We are not serious. We are only good at talking and talking ….but without acting. We should stop and take action,” he said.

Mujasi was responding to the speech by Dr Francis Adatu Engwau, the Program Manager National TB and Leprosy programme in the ministry of health indicating that Mbale district had performed well in TB detection but failed in treatment.

“Mbale’s case detection rate is at 82.8% out of the target of 70% but the treatment rate is at 77.2% out of the target of 85%,” Engwau said.

Rakai district won a certificate of recognition for the good performance in both detection and treatment rates. TB detection rate in Rakai district stood at 70% while successful treatment stood at 85%, hitting within the national target.

Sembabule district also won certificate for making improvements. It improved from 30% to 60%, Dr Joseph Kawuma the executive secretary Uganda Stop TB Partnership said.
Mbale district health officer Dr Francis Obwaimo said over 1000 cases of TB have been confirmed in the district of which, 472, tested sputum positive.

He said over congestion, poor ventilation of buildings, and appalling unhygienic conditions especially in the periphery of the town, are responsible for the spread of
the problem.

The minister of health Dr Stephen Malinga in a speech read for him by the Mbale RDC, Mr Paul Moses Lubowa said however, attributed the problem to the community’s failure to seek early medical attention.

“Studies have shown that our people report late to seek medical care. One average TB patient delay 6-8 weeks before seeking care.  This leads to continued spread of TB in the
communities and higher death rates which could have been averted,” said Mallinga.

He cautioned the community to consider any cough that lasts three weeks to be TB and therefore seek medical care until it is proved otherwise.

The minister further said whereas the government was committed to fight the problem, efforts were being undermined by the shortage of human resources because the programme heavily relies on laboratory services.

The high association of TB with HIV/Aids, Mallinga said has also complicated the situation saying that 60% of TB patients are also HIV/AIDS positive. Each year in Uganda, there are 80,000 new cases of TB but only half of the number gets detected and treated. And that every one patient who does not get treated infects 10-15 more people every year.

Entry Filed under: Opinions