Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) has observed that the COVID-19 Pandemic has overshadowed curable and preventable diseases such as Tuberculosis.
Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding CIDRZ and the Zambia Private Sector Alliance(ZPSA) towards the fight against tuberculosis, CIDRZ Chief Financial Officer, Ackim Sinkala says COVID-19 has negatively affected the provision and access to essential TB services.
Mr. Sinkala says as Zambia strives to end TB by 2030, the role of the private sector cannot be over emphasized.
He says the partnership will assist CIDRZ and government to have easy access and carry out TB sensitisation to people working in member companies affiliated to ZPSA.
Speaking at the same event, ZPSA Chairman Dr. Chabusha Kawesha says the MoU serves as an additional step by the Alliance in ensuring that the health agenda of the country is upheld to the highest level.
Meanwhile, CIDRZ Chief of Party of the USAID Tuberculosis Local Organizations’ Network (TBLON) Project Luunga Ziko says TB has continued to be a killer disease in Zambia even in the era of Covid-19.
He says 60, 000 people get infected while 15, 000 people die as a result of TB annually in Zambia, adding that with the availability of medicines to cure TB in Zambia, the fight against TB can be won.