Zim runs out of TB drugs
08/06/2006 15:37  - (SA)  

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Harare - Public clinics and hospitals in the Zimbabwean capital are running out of desperately-needed drugs to treat tuberculosis, as a worsening hard currency shortage hits state health facilities hard, according to reports.

Overcrowding and poor hygiene had seen increasing cases of TB surfacing in Harare. The high incidence of HIV/Aids affected one in five Zimbabweans and had also led to the spread of the highly-infectious disease.

It was reported that storerooms were empty of the much-needed drugs. Requests for money to purchase the medicine were not being heeded.

Acting director of health services Stanley Mungofa said: "There are no TB drugs." Zimbabwe's worst-ever-economic crisis was affecting all sectors of society, not least public health.

The reports said that the city health department needed at least 22 billion Zimbabwe dollars ($220 000) every month to purchase drugs and maintain its clinics and hospitals.

According to reports: "Treasury is not releasing the money despite requests to prioritise health."

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