Effective tuberculosis (TB) treatment has been available for the past 60 years. But TB remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. It ranks above HIV and AIDS and others. This is partly because of the impact of HIV co-infection among TB patients in places like Africa and emergency of MDR-XDR TB. Lack of both gender mainstreaming and reduction of stigma manifested by persistently lower reported cases among women that men is of continued concern. Progress in TB elimination was being made. But the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have set back TB control programmes worldwide. More so in Africa. While COVID-19 prevention measures like mask-wearing could have prevented TB transmission, on the whole, little attention was given to holding the forts of TB prevention and treatment as all efforts went to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting well-functioning programmes built over decades of careful research and planning.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
More Stories
The Challenges Facing the New Leader of Africa’s Largest Economy are Simply Enormous
Understanding the Opinions of Africa’s Rising Generation
SA Reserve Bank Concerned about the Rand’s Recent Meltdown and Persistent Price Pressures
Africa’s Banking Sector Celebrates
ICYMI Sam Altman Made a Stop in Lagos
Is African Debt as Perilous as Foreign Lenders Assume?
Accra’s IPPs Threaten Shutdown Over Non-Payment
DRC To Change the Way it Does Business with China
Maputo Picks a Partner for its Hydro Plans
Results of the Kenya Small Firm Diaries study in Nairobi
Africa Day this Year Marks 60 Years since the Founding of the Organisation of African Unity
Zimbabwe Retailers Head to the Streets