The annual Septrin coverage on patients with TB and HIV in Chipata remains at 100 percent

The annual Septrin coverage on patients with both TB, Tuberculosis and HIV in Chipata has remained at 100 percent from 2014 to 2015.
This came to light yesterday during the commemoration of World TB Day held at Namuseche Correction Center in Chipata.
Chipata District Administrative Officer, Kapembwa Sikazwe says this has resulted in high mortality rate of patients with both HIV and TB which has remained at six percent.
Mr. Sikazwe added that the number of patients on anti-retroviral therapy, ART in Chipata has risen from 69 percent in 2014 to 82 percent in 2015.
He says that this calls for concerted efforts from various stakeholders to work hard and fight TB and HIV.
Mr. Sikazwe says government is highly committed to ensuring that people get cured from TB by accessing early treatment in various health institutions.
He says Chipata district currently has 56 health facilities that offer TB tests and treatment.
Mr. Sikazwe urged people to be going to the hospital whenever they have a prolonged cough accompanied by sweating and heat on the feet.
And Mr. Sikazwe says the annual TB cure rate has reduced by one percent from 82 percent in 2014 to 81 percent in 2015.
Meanwwhile some inmates on TB treatment at Namuseche Correction Center in Chipata tend to default their medication because of transfers.
Namuseche Correction Center Officer-in-Charge, Superintendent Alex Chibale says the inmates do not collect their medical forms when being transferred.
Superintendent Chibale says the situation makes it difficult for the inmates to continue with their medication because some of them cannot explain the type of medicine they were taking as the medication differs.
Superintendent Chibale says defaulting medication is not good as it leads to easy spread of the disease because of congestion as the prison which was created to house about 400 prisoners now has over 800 prisoners.
He however, says Namuseche currently has eight inmates on TB treatment who are in a separate cell.
The Officer-in-charge added that Namuseche has continued facing challenges in feeding inmates on special diet due to unavailability of complimentary food.
He also stated that Namuseche clinic has transport challenges for referral cases, following the breakdown of an ambulance in 2014.
Superintendent Chibale says Namuseche Clinic is highly congested because it caters for people in the surrounding farms.