The Chief Health Programme Officer in the Ministry of Health and Social Services in the ||Kharas Region, Dorothy Maloboka, has urged tuberculosis patients to refrain from mixing TB medication with alcohol.
Maloboka, who spoke to NBC News during the community screening for TB at Keetmanshoop, said that adherence remains a challenge that needs urgent redress.
Namibia has the eleventh highest incidence of TB per capita in the world, making it a top public health priority.
The mass community screening campaigns thus aim to ensure that inhabitants in selected areas are offered an opportunity to be screened for TB, and those found to be infectious are put on treatment.
Health officials screened 600 people within the first week of the mass screening, resulting in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of seven individuals.
"The ministry is making use of outreach clinics so that for those who cannot walk, the ministry will always meet them halfway. We can meet at a school or any accessible area to provide these services, which is why we have initiated the TB mass screening. These mass screenings, even in the region, can just be done anytime that they are ready; just put their resources together and go to an area where they have a high number of TB cases," said Maloboka.
In 2023, the World Health Organisation estimated that 25% of people with TB in Namibia do not get diagnosed or treated for it; most of those missed will continue to infect others. To make matters worse, some TB patients are said to be mixing treatment with alcohol or drugs. Maloboka said that such an arrangement is a recipe for disaster.
"Alcohol and TB are enemies, and they will always be enemies, so people should refrain, and they should stop drinking and even using drugs because when you are drunk, you will forget when you are supposed to take your treatment; you are not even bothered."
Apart from the TB community mass screening taking place, various health services are also being provided.
Acting Chief Health Officer Anna Isaaks said, "We are very happy to see young people turn up and old people turn up. People came with their babies. We conducted mobilisation efforts by visiting homes directly, going door to door. We were at Karas FM. We are now doing interviews with NBC, and we will also do interviews with the radio stations. At the facilities, we provided information to the public, emphasising the importance of young people participating in large numbers, which makes us very happy."
The mass TB screening will be conducted next week in Rosh Pinah, followed by Luderitz and Aus, respectively.