Tuberculosis leading killer of people with HIV

Feb 24, 2008

A recent survey by the TB Programme has shown that the number of Tuberculosis (TB) patients who are also infected with HIV, has increased by 20% in the last two years.

By Gladys Kalibbala

A recent survey by the TB Programme has shown that the number of Tuberculosis (TB) patients who are also infected with HIV, has increased by 20% in the last two years.

The number of patients with both TB and HIV in the country has risen to 70% compared to 50% in 2006.
It was also noted that globally, a third of the World’s population is infected with TB while 8.8 million new cases appear every year and 5,000 deaths are recorded every day.

“TB is the leading killer of HIV patients and has become a national burden as about 300 new TB patients are reported each year from every constituency in the country,” said Dr Francis Adatu, the project manager of the TB Programme.

The report shows that Kampala has recorded a low treatment success of only 16.7% patients compared to the high detection of 179.9%.

Adatu also lamented about the 50% suspected contagious cases reported in the survey which remain undetected and untreated, leading to more spread of the disease.

To improve the pathetic condition, a Tuberculosis Control Assistance Programme was recently launched at Colline Hotel in Mukono.
The first phase of the programme is expected to run for three years in 12 districts.

They include Kampala, Mpigi, Mukono and Kayunga. Others are Soroti, Bukedea, Manafwa and Mbale, Kiboga, Hoima, Masindi and Buliisa.

The in-charge of the programme, Dr Anna Mukwaya, said the programme will increase the detection and treatment of TB.

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