TB increases in Mozambique

30 Mar, 2011

The number of new cases of tuberculosis in Mozambique increased from 38,044 in 2007 to 46,174 in 2010 according to figures reported by the minister of health on World Tuberculosis day on 24 March.

Mozambique is among the 20 worst affected countries in the world and the government has declared a national emergency in a campaign to stop the spread of the disease.

Diagnosis is free of charge at health centres across the country and the ministry of health is training community-based volunteers to identify sufferers, encourage them to get an early diagnosis and start the six-month course of treatment as soon as possible. It is estimated that in Mozambique over half of those afflicted by TB are also infected by HIV/AIDS.

The campaign slogan chosen on World TB Day 2011 to eradicate tuberculosis across the world by 2015 is