Harare-30 March 2010-(The Herald) Government will this year establish 52 tuberculosis diagnostic centres across Zimbabwe — including seven in prisons — to reduce prevalence of the disease.

Officiating at commemorations to mark World TB Day yesterday, Health and Child Welfare Minister Henry Madzorera said the current TB detection rate of 40 percent was unacceptable.

"Zimbabwe has 115 functional diagnostic centres out of a possible 180.

"We are making efforts to ensure that all non-functional sites perform TB diagnosis.

"Furthermore, 2010 will see 52 smear diagnostic centres, including seven in prison health services.

"In Harare alone, six sites have been identified to commence TB smear microscropy and renovations are now in progress.

"My ministry intends to increase capacity for fast and more efficient diagnosis in 10 busy centres throughout the country," he said.

Dr Madzorera said Zimbabwe was one of Africa’s pioneers in adopting formal and standardised practical approaches to training microscopists.

To date, 202 have been trained while a further 320 will be trained before year end.

Harare city health director Dr Stanley Mungofa said: "We have targeted to eliminate TB in the city by 2020.

"Beginning last year, all treatment for TB is now being administered only by qualified medical personnel," he said.

He said the city was involved in a trial for new TB drug regiments that would shorten the treatment period.

World Health Organisation country representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate said TB remained a major public concern in Africa hence the need to scale up effective control interventions.

Online at: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=16907&cat=1

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