TB patients decry shortage of drugs

By Saudha Nakandha

KALANGALA - Tuberculosis (TB) patients have expressed worry over the shortage of TB drugs for the last two months.

"We fear for our lives because we are not accessing drugs as we are supposed to; this is a threat to our lives as well as the nation," Henry Kizito, the Chairperson Kalangala District forum oF People Living With HIV (PLHIV )explains .

"I have come to this health centre several times but the health workers tell me to check on them the next day. If they do not give me the drugs I am soon giving up," one of the TB patients who preferred anonymity said.

A recent research carried out by National Forum of people living with HIV/AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU) to establish the root cause of the stockout of the drugs found out that over 300 patients had missed out on the TB treatment for the last two months due to a stock out.

The district TB focal person, Erick Serumaga, confirmed that the shortage is as a result of missing out on TB drugs deliveries from the National Medical stores, the drugs distributing body.

"Though we made orders for the ARVS and TB drugs, only deliveries of the ARVS were made on the last two consecutive deliveries.  This has created stock outs of the TB initial phase medication (RHZT),"  Serumaga said.

Besides that the district Linkage Facilitator,  Margert Namanda, expressed worry of the patients getting exposed to multi resistant TB due to failure to adhere to drugs

"Residents are worried of getting multi resistant TB due to stock outs. The health workers live in fear of contracting the TB resistant strains and patients fear to Masaka the nearby area for treatment," she said.

At the moment patients are being referred to Masaka for treatment.