FANNY KALONDA
Lusaka
ZAMBIA has made significant progress in diagnosing drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) but still faces gaps in detecting resistance beyond rifampicin.
Rifampicin is one of the key antibiotics used to treat TB.
The Ministry of Health has received 200 computers to upgrade GeneXpert machines across the country and expand Zambia’s capacity to detect drug-resistant TB.
The equipment, worth about K5.5 million, was handed over to the Ministry of Health yesterday by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ).
The donation was made under the Facility and Community-Based Service Delivery Support (FC-SDS) project, implemented by CIDRZ with support from the United States government through the Stop TB Partnership.
The equipment includes 200 desktop computers, eight spirometers and five oxygen concentrators.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for technical services Kennedy Lishimpi said the expanded testing capacity will help health workers identify drug-resistant TB earlier, provide appropriate treatment and improve treatment outcomes.
Dr Lishimpi said the equipment will also support the first phase of post-TB lung disease care in selected health facilities.
He said the spirometers will help health workers assess and manage lung function among patients recovering from TB and other respiratory illnesses, while the oxygen concentrators will support TB survivors requiring the service.
“Our vision is to provide comprehensive, patient-centred care that includes prevention, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and long-term well-being,” Dr Lishimpi said.
United States embassy chargé d’affaires Mich Coker said Zambia has demonstrated sustained commitment to confronting TB by strengthening its diagnostic capacity.
Mr Coker said the equipment must reach areas where it is needed most and be properly maintained, adding that information generated by the machines must be used to improve patient care.
CIDRZ chief medical officer Carolyn Moore, through her representative Ronald Sinkala, said the donation is aimed at strengthening the ministry’s systems and capacity to deliver quality TB services.
University Teaching Hospital senior medical superintendent Charles Mbewe said the equipment will be put to good use to improve patient outcomes
