Govt buys anti-TB drugs

GOVERNMENT has purchased first line anti-TB drugs for the next two months, the Principal Secretary Dr. Steven Shongwe has said.
He stated that the second line drugs would be added, stating that at the moment they are available in stock
Dr. Shongwe said the standard short course treatment drugs for tuberculosis that have arrived are Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol.
He said “the drugs have arrived at the scheduled time and we are hoping to have more so that they continue to be available to every hospital.”
He stated that Ethambutol is added when the TB organism is not fully sensitive, adding that then treatment is supposed to be continued for four months.
He explained that the multi drug tuberculosis (MDR) does not respond to the first six months treatment.
He said “this TB is resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin. It is then treated with the second line drugs.”
The PS stated that drugs to treat MDR are much more expensive and treatment can take for up to two years.
He emphasised on the need for TB patients to take their medication as prescribed to ensure that they do not relapse.
“People should ensure that they do not default because in order to beat TB there is great need to take the full treatment,” he said.
He stated that it is important for people to know that TB was a curable disease and anyone can recover from it completely.

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