PDM calls for action against TB
The Popular Democratic Movement says that unless the tide of TB is stemmed, costs of treatment will be unaffordable.
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) says urgent action is needed to address the TB epidemic in Namibia.
According to PDM member of parliament and chairperson of the TB Caucus in Namibia Elma Dienda, 1 600 people died of TB last year and 11 000 people contracted the disease.
Dienda said predictions by the World Health Organisation indicated that there would be 186 170 new cases and 25 780 deaths from TB between 2015 and 2030.
Should the current rate persist, treating TB would cost Namibia at least US$1.86 billion between 2015 and 2030, she said.
“These figures make it undeniably clear that there is an economic as well as a national health and human imperative to act immediately to end TB.”
She further said that in Africa 758 630 people died of TB and more than 2.7 million people contracted it last year.
Of these 2.7 million people an estimated 1.3 million were not diagnosed or treated and thereby the likelihood of transmission increased. At the current rate of progress it was estimated that in Africa 12.7 million people will die and 47.6 million people fall ill between 2000 and 2030.
The economic impact of this disease in Africa is estimated at US$303 billion by 2030.
According to Dienda these are the worrying findings from new data commissioned by the Global TB Caucus.
This new research outlines the extent of the human and economic cost which will result from inaction in addressing the TB epidemic. The estimates show that failing to tackle TB will cost the world economy U$983 billion by 2030.
“I highlight and bring these alarming figures into the public domain, because perhaps we may not all be aware of the seriousness of the TB epidemic. It is my sincere hope that once this information is out in the open, then it will serve to galvanise and ignite the political and societal will required to tackle the TB epidemic head-on.”
She called upon NGOs, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and political parties to stand together and help the Ministry of Health and Social Services and Namibia as a whole in addressing the TB epidemic.
ELLANIE SMIT
According to PDM member of parliament and chairperson of the TB Caucus in Namibia Elma Dienda, 1 600 people died of TB last year and 11 000 people contracted the disease.
Dienda said predictions by the World Health Organisation indicated that there would be 186 170 new cases and 25 780 deaths from TB between 2015 and 2030.
Should the current rate persist, treating TB would cost Namibia at least US$1.86 billion between 2015 and 2030, she said.
“These figures make it undeniably clear that there is an economic as well as a national health and human imperative to act immediately to end TB.”
She further said that in Africa 758 630 people died of TB and more than 2.7 million people contracted it last year.
Of these 2.7 million people an estimated 1.3 million were not diagnosed or treated and thereby the likelihood of transmission increased. At the current rate of progress it was estimated that in Africa 12.7 million people will die and 47.6 million people fall ill between 2000 and 2030.
The economic impact of this disease in Africa is estimated at US$303 billion by 2030.
According to Dienda these are the worrying findings from new data commissioned by the Global TB Caucus.
This new research outlines the extent of the human and economic cost which will result from inaction in addressing the TB epidemic. The estimates show that failing to tackle TB will cost the world economy U$983 billion by 2030.
“I highlight and bring these alarming figures into the public domain, because perhaps we may not all be aware of the seriousness of the TB epidemic. It is my sincere hope that once this information is out in the open, then it will serve to galvanise and ignite the political and societal will required to tackle the TB epidemic head-on.”
She called upon NGOs, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and political parties to stand together and help the Ministry of Health and Social Services and Namibia as a whole in addressing the TB epidemic.
ELLANIE SMIT
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