Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Ministry of Health says while Zambia has made progress in reducing TB mortality by 64% from 2000 to 2020, this however, falls far short of the 90% decrease needed to eliminate TB by 2030.
Speaking at the dissemination of the TB mortality study findings, ministry of health Director of public health Andrew Silumesi says to achieve TB elimination, mortality and incidences should reduce by 80% AND 90% RESPECTIVELY BY 2030.
Dr Silumesi says it is against this background that the ministry of health through the national TB and Leprosy program adopted a vision of zero deaths and suffering due to TB.
He states despite the high national average TB treatment success rate of more than 90 percent that has been achieved in the last 10-years, in some provinces such as Southern and Eastern, TB mortality is as high as 10 percent and that the cause the high mortality is these provinces is unknown.
Dr Silumesi says the study had a qualitative component involving interviews with former TB patients, community based volunteers,relatives and guardians of deceased TB patients.
Speaking earlier, USAID Zambia health office deputy director Elisa Adelman says 14,000 Zambians die every year from TB, and that this translates to not only individual loss, but the loss of growth and well being of an entire nation.