Rumphi District Hospital Sees 81% TB Treatment Success in 2022

Malawi - Rumphi District Hospital has achieved an 81% treatment success rate in tuberculosis (TB) patients for the year 2022, writes Wezzie Mwangonde.

The hospital did not register any TB defaulters, a significant accomplishment in the country's National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination Programme.

According to TB officer Umar Mwamadi, the hospital registered 134 TB cases in the district.

However, due to the collaborative efforts of health personnel and TB volunteers in the community, all patients were able to follow their medication and bring their household contacts to the hospital for TB screening.

"We work hand in hand with TB volunteers and Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) in the communities to make sure that our patients do not default," Mwamadi said.

"In 2022, we have registered 0% TB defaulters and 81% treatment success rate because, among the patients, some passed on."

Mwamadi also explained that when a patient is diagnosed with TB, health personnel ask for the patient's physical address and active contact phone numbers.

They then make physical visits to the patient's home and introduce the patient to the HSAs and TB volunteers for proper follow-ups. This helps reduce cases of defaulters among the patients.

Thokozire Gondwe, a TB volunteer from Village Headman Mwabuwira under Traditional Authority Chikulamayende in the district, added that they are committed to fighting TB.

They make regular visits to TB patients in their area and demand active contact numbers of their neighbours from TB patients because some patients can provide false contact details, including their physical addresses.

"Every HSA has volunteered in their catchment areas. Therefore, when we visit the TB patients, we check the uptake of drugs and ask the guardians if the patient is following instructions from health personnel, and this is done for six months until the patient finalizes the medication," Gondwe explained.

Rumphi District Hospital's achievement is a testament to the success of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination Programme in Malawi and the collaborative efforts of health personnel and volunteers in the community towards achieving treatment success among TB patients.