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Africa: Botswana Ministry of Health

Drug–resistant TB is a greater challenge than before

TB anywhere is TB everywhere, was the theme of World TB Day 2007 in March, which the Government of Botswana says is a reminder that although tuberculosis is a preventable and curable disease, it is also a global emergency.

In common with many other countries, the Government says that Botswana faces a greater challenge from TB than at any time in its history and the Ministry of Health states that an immediate and urgent global and national response is needed to strengthen control over the disease. The Government has called for better collaboration between all those involved in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and TB, in order to control these inter–related problems.

Despite the fact that for many years the country had a successful programme to control TB, the Ministry of Health reports that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has eroded the progress made in years past and, because of the close association between tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, at least half of those with TB are also HIV positive. It points out that drug resistant TB is a severe global public health threat, especially in populations with high rates of HIV like Botswana.

Furthermore, the majority of deaths occur in people aged between 15 and 54, the most economically active members of society.

In a bid to deal with the issue, a grant from the Global Fund which amounts to some $846 million has been earmarked for sub–Saharan Africa to fight malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The Global Fund also recently signed a contract to finance a TB project in Botswana, the latest of many projects it has funded to assist the countries needy.

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