CNS: Articles of Sam Banda Jnr

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Malawi’s HIV/TB treatment challenge

Sam Banda Jnr - CNS
The world, on December 1, joined hands to commemorate the World AIDS Day which every year gives an opportunity to people to renew their commitment to the fight against HIV, advocate for the rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV), and remembers brothers and sisters who died of AIDS related conditions. Malawi is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa which is severely affected by the HIV-epidemic. The TB-HIV co-infection is one of the prime challenges that this Southern African country continues to battle and the NTP Programme Manager James Mpunga notes that the high mortality rate of the TB-HIV cases is mainly due to diagnostic challenges. TB is the most prevalent opportunistic infection in HIV patients and Mpunga says it contributes significantly to HIV associated deaths in Malawi and Africa as a region.

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi

Malawi’s National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) Programme manager James Mpunga says the problems of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a challenge to the Southern African country compared to Extensively-Drug Resistant TB ( XDR-TB), observing that it is high time new vaccines were developed. He said that with patients not always taking the drugs as directed, MDR-TB and XDR-TB strains have emerged. Mpunga, nevertheless, discloses that Malawi has a problem with MDR-TB and not XDRTB yet.

Sam Banda Jr, Malawi
(First published in BNL Times, Malawi on 8 October 2013)
The lives of more than 74,000 children lost to Tuberculosis (TB) each year could be saved according to the first plan tailored to address TB in children. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Stop TB Partnership are among the organization which have come up with the plan. The roadmap estimates that at least US$120 million per year would be needed to address childhood TB.

Malawi struggles with asthma

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 14th May 2013): The world on May 7 joined hands to commemorate the World Asthma Day, a disease that has suffered little attention despite millions of people in almost every region being affected. It is an issue of international concern and this is why an annual event is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.The theme for this year's commemoration was "You Can Control Your Asthma." However, this year GINA also introduced a sub-theme, "It's Time to Control Asthma."

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 2nd May 2013): A survey conducted in some of the country's private pharmacy hospitals, national procurement centre and public hospital pharmacies has revealed an unavailability of some of the asthma drugs and this is highlighted in the global asthma report 2011. The report which is the first of its kind says the survey conducted on availability of surveyed inhalers by country, type of health facility and national essential medicines list in the world, shows that Malawi has a lot to do, as some drugs were not available in the private pharmacy, national procurement centre and public hospital pharmacy.

Ministry of Health, WHO urges on blood pressure tests

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 10th April 2013): THE Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO) have called on adults in the country to check their blood pressure and adhere to medical advice when found with high blood pressure. The advice follows this year's World Health Day theme which is focusing on high blood pressure. In a statement released on Saturday, Secretary for Health Charles Mwansambo and WHO Resident Representative Felicitas Zawaira also advise people to practice healthy lifestyles to prevent and control high blood pressure and its complications.

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
(First published in The Daily Times, Malawi on 28th March 2013): On Sunday March 24, the world came together to commemorate the World TB Day under the theme Stop TB in My Life Time. The World TB Day was designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic and reporter SAM BANDA JNR takes a closer look at the challenge the disease poses on children. TB is an airborne disease and second leading cause of death among infectious diseases worldwide after HIV and Aids. World Health Organisation (WHO) latest figures indicate that at least 500,000 children become ill with TB each year and that up to 70,000 do not survive.

Sam Banda Jnr, Malawi
The world on March 8 every year celebrates the International Women's Day which, originally, was known as International Working Women's Day. The focus of the day involves general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women for women's political and social achievements. In some countries, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.