Zimbabwe To Introduce Drug Isoniazid To Prevent TB Cases Among HIV-Positive People, Health Minister Says
Zimbabwe's Health and Child Welfare Minister David Parirenyatwa on Monday announced that the government soon will introduce the antibiotic isoniazid in an effort to prevent HIV-positive people from developing tuberculosis, The Herald/AllAfrica.com reports. "We are very worried about coinfection, a situation where HIV and AIDS patients are infected with other diseases, and tuberculosis in particular, given its devastating effects on them," Parirenyatwa said. About 70% of people with TB in Zimbabwe also are living with HIV, according to The Herald/AllAfrica.com.
Health workers in the country will be trained on isoniazid use, after which the drug will be rolled out nationwide. According to Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe also will implement a policy framework for the drug, which is approved by the World Health Organization. Parirenyatwa added that the country recently has been focusing on HIV/AIDS while overlooking other diseases, including TB and malaria (The Herald/AllAfrica.com, 7/8).