By Silindzelwe Nxumalo
In the past nine months, the Ministry of Health has discovered new cancer, TB, and Covid cases in the country in three different regions. There were 29 cancer cases, over 300 TB cases, and 128 Covid-19 cases discovered in Manzini, Hhohho, and Lubombo region.
Ministry of Health TB/ HIV Focal Person Lindiwe Dlamini said the study which started in January and ended in October 2023 was sponsored by Georgetown University through Pepfar and Baylor. Dlamini stated that this study was done in three regions of the country, which are Manzini, Hhohho, and Lubombo regions.
She said the project was focused on creating awareness and educating about the topics of TB and Covid-19 cases in these regions’ different Tinkhundla.
ALSO READ: Eswatini Railways joins peers in commemorating Railway safety week
“We visited these three regions with our mobile clinic van, and nurses, and went to the people and asked them to test,” she said. She mentioned that once they had tested them, they then gave them treatment and referred them to the nearest clinics for monitoring.
She added that as they were doing these visits, they noticed that the people wanted to be tested for other sicknesses such as diabetes, cancer, BP, and others. “Once we realized this need, we then called our other colleagues to join us in this study so that they provide the tests that were mostly requested by the public,” she said. Dlamini stated that their mobile x-ray was very helpful during their visits as they were able to use it to not only screen for TB but also screen for cancer.
She further reported that the 128 Covid-19 cases were all now free and had been retested showing no signs of the disease.
