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AMDEC - ENGLISHWorld Tuberculosis Day celebrated with a slogan of courage for its elimination
The central ceremonies to commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day were held on April 1 in Maputo, under the slogan "YES! We Can End Tuberculosis". The event was attended by the government, represented at the highest level by the Minister of Health, Dr. Armindo Tiago, as well as by national and international non-governmental organizations committed to fighting the disease in Mozambique. AMDEC's Executive Director, Gilda Jossias was present at the event, as President of the Board of the Civil Society Platform for Health and Human Rights.
In his speech, the Minister of Health said that the TB component requires greater emphasis on prevention strategies and research, arguing that efforts begin with personal and collective surveillance, as well as the provision of specialized and quality health care by the authorities. Armindo Tiago also highlighted the efforts being made by research institutions.
In her turn, Gilda Jossias pointed out that, in addition to the massification of educational actions for greater surveillance of communities about the disease, priority should be given to training health professionals, including community and health agents, strengthening diagnostic capacity, expansion of the laboratory network, optimization of the integrated sample transport system and focused screening for high-risk groups.
Likewise, Jossias highlighted Civil Society's commitment to the fight against Tuberculosis, highlighting the call for the Government to increase domestic funding for actions to combat the disease, as a strong sign of the Government of Mozambique's political commitment.
Tuberculosis represents a social and economic problem in the country, affecting 361 people for every hundred thousand inhabitants. Of these, around 25% have dual infection, TB and HIV; 12% are children under the age of 15; and has been the cause of 29 deaths per hundred thousand inhabitants.
