New TB drug hailed

The introduction of a new TB treatment drug has been a success, with the government now adopting it across the country.

Malawi: The introduction of a new TB treatment drug has been a success, with the government now adopting it across the country, according to Emmanuel Kaonga, program manager for the Impact for TB Assessment Project, which has been running in the country for four years.

Speaking to the AfricaBrief, Kaonga stated that the 3HP treatment regimen as an alternative to the Isoniazid drug, which has caused various side effects in HIV-positive individuals, has been a significant step forward in the fight against tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, Kaonga has identified Covid 19 as the primary impediment to the project's successful implementation.

According to Kaonga, many people stopped visiting clinics during the peak of Covid 19, which increased the defaulting rate.

The KNCV-TB provided assistance to the IMPAACT project.