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."

Tanzania : Scores end up in hospital as cholera hits three regions

Via The Citizen :

" At least 87 patients have been admitted in various hospitals in the country following an outbreak of cholera, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said yesterday.

Speaking to The Citizen, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Ms Blandina Nyoni, said her office has received a report showing 87 cholera patients have been recorded in three regions of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Shinyanga.According to her, Dar es Salaam reported 58 patients in Temeke District and one in Kinondoni District. She said in Bariadi District, Shinyanga Region, there were at least 23 people who had been reported to have con- tracted cholera while six other people were reported in Mkinga District, Tanga Region.

She said the ministry was well prepared to face the situation. She therefore urged members of the public toreport to hospitals and health centres for treatment on detecting cholera symptoms which include diarrhoea and vomiting.Commenting on the red eyes disease, which has affected a number of Dar es Salaam residents, Ms Nyoni said her ministry had no official report on it, but promised to make a follow-up.However, Ms Nyoni urged the city residents and Tanzanians in general to take precautions on the outbreak of dis- eases for the betterment of their health."

Tanzania : Cholera outbreak reported in Urambo District

Via The Citizen :

" Urambo : An outbreak of cholera has been reported in Urambo District, Tabora Region, with three people already admitted at the district hospital.The Urambo district medical officer, Dr Revocatus Joseph, said that four people, one among them from the outskirt of Urambo town, were recently admitted at the hospital suffering from diarrhoea.

“We later established the disease as cholera. However, he said one person was discharged after his condition improved,” said Dr Joseph, adding that another person who was looking after a patient admitted at the hospital also contacted the disease.He said several precautionary measures have already been taken to contain the spread of the deadly water borne disease.

Dr Joseph said they took measures to vaccinate members of the families of the two people who were admitted alongside their neighbours so as to prevent the disease from spreading."