More than 400 people will die from tuberculosis in 2023, said Tuesday, October 1, the Director of the National Tuberculosis Program (PNLT), Dr. Michel Kasua.
He said this in Kinshasa during the presentation of the results of the survey on the reduction or elimination of tuberculosis in the DRC by 2035:
« Last year more than 4,000 died of tuberculosis. We must remember that in three years COVID-19 has only killed 1,200 people, according to national statistics. In one year, tuberculosis kills three more people than COVID-19 ».
For Dr Michel Kasua, this study sought to understand the psychological, social and structural reasons that prevent people from getting tested in the event of a positive detection.
He also advocated for the transformation of the results of this survey into operational guidelines to reduce or eliminate tuberculosis in the DRC by 2035.
« This involves implementing in a programmatic manner all the evidence that appears through the results of this study. That we can translate this evidence into guidelines, into policy to change the situation. That’s the most important thing. And how we transform these results into operational guidelines that change the way we design, monitor and evaluate the fight against tuberculosis », continued this doctor.
This initiative of the PNLT with the technical support of Breakthroug Action on financing from USAID partner of the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention.
This activity took place under the direction of the representative of the Secretary General for Health, in the presence of Florence William Mpata, deputy director of Breakthroug Action.
