Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho through the ministry of Health last week met with three other partners for a four-day meeting in a Southern Africa TB Health System Strengthening (SATBHSS) project last week Friday at Thaba-Bosiu cultural village, for a 3rd Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).
According to Director-TB and Leprosy in the Disease Control Unit Dr Llang Maama, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawa and Zambia have partnered on a common goal to fight against TB in the southern region. Members in the project she said are the Principal Secretaries from more than two ministries from each country.
Lesotho members in the project Maama said are ministry of Health “in the forefront”, ministry of Labour and Employment, Mining and Justice and Correctional Service – all with their respective roles.
She elaborated: “For example, the ministry of Justice and Correctional Services is there to ensure better structures in the correctional services by monitoring TB infection among the prisoners.
” For a better connection in communication, she said these countries meet twice annually to discuss work progress in a project sponsored by World Bank.
“We usually meet so as to reflect on the progress made in terms of success and challenges encountered in the process in our different countries,” she said.
Deputy minister of Health, ‘Manthabiseng Phohleli said SATBHSS is important to Lesotho ministry of health in terms of addressing TB in the mining sector.
“We are now able to intervene even in our local mining industry to enhance occupational health and safety starting with the presence of required pieces of legislature in this regard,” she said.
Phohleli said the project targets underserved populations with a high TB/HIV burden, including mining communities, transport corridors, cross border areas and health Care workers focusing on three key components: innovative prevention, detection, and treatment of TB; regional capacity for disease surveillance, diagnostics, and management of TB and Occupational lung diseases and regional learning and innovation.
“This very initiative achieves the multi sectorial approach which is key in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Organization (WHO), end TB targets by 2030 cognizance of the fact Lesotho has the highest TB burden in the world after our neighbor South Africa,” she emphasized.
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