Allocate more funding for TB eradication – ECSAHC

By Mercy Ngoma

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community says countries in the region need to allocate more funding to the eradication of Tuberculosis –TB- in mining communities.

East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, Manager-Health Systems and Capacity Development, WALTER ODOCH says miners, their families and communities are at a higher risk of contracting TB.

Dr. ODOCH further says countries in the region with Zambia included need to operationalise the SADC declaration of TB in the mining sector.

He says SADC Heads of State and Government signed a declaration on TB in the mining sector in Maputo Mozambique in 2012 aimed at tackling the disease burden in mining communities.

Dr. ODOCH said this in an interview with ZNBC news in Johannesburg, South Africa during a two-day media training on TB in the mining sector.

And East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, Communications and Advocacy Officer JUSTIN MAHIMBO urged journalists to advocate for behaviour change to help reduce TB in mining communities.

Mr. MAHIMBO said journalists are key partners in driving change and that the training is meant to enable the practitioners to report better on TB in the mining sector in the region.

And East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community Senior Programme Officer MILLIAM URASA said there is need for more innovative and scientific research that can come up with new TB vaccinations.

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