Tanzania : Patients - New TB drugs too strong

Via IPP Media :

" Doctors have assured patients at national Tuberculosis Hospital, Kibong’oto in Kilimanjaro Region that the newly received drugs are made up of the same compounds as those they were taking before.

The assurance comes after this paper was told by some patients that the medicines were too strong for them.

But when reached for comment the National TB and Leprosy, Programme Manager, Dr Saidi Egwaga said the medicines were of very good quality and that hey have been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“They are same as those they used to take. They are accepted worldwide,” he said.

When told that patients were complaining that the medicines were too strong for them, Dr Egwaga said the issue of whether the medicine is strong or not is a matter that should be discussed between the patient and his/her doctor."

Tanzania : Cholera outbreak death toll in Lindi rural now doubles

Via IPP Media :

" The number of people who have died of cholera outbreak in Lindi-rural district has now increased to 12 from six over the last week.

According to the acting district medical officer (DMO) Kazembe Mkunga, deaths resulted from cholera outbreak started to occur on July 6, this year.

He identified areas most hit by the outbreak, as Nyangao village which reported 8 deaths, Maumbika two deaths and one death in each of Mtua and Kilimahewa villages.

Dr Kazembe said since the eruption of cholera in the district, a total of 219 people had been affected by and had been treated at different health centres and dispensaries in the district, where special camps were set up to control the outbreak.

The camps were set up at Nyangao, Mtama, Kilimahewa, Mtua and Mahumbika villages, informed the acting DMO.

He said Nyangao camp was leading for receiving more victims as it received and treated 149 patients, Mahumbika 41 patients, Mtama 18, Mtua 10 and Kilimahewa 3."