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Tanzania: Mahenge Diocese joins in the fight against TB

The Diocese of Mahenge in Tanzania has inaugurated a campaign against Tuberculosis disease (TB) in an effort to combat the killer disease in the country, reports .

Opening the 5 days training for the TB Home Based Care Volunteers at Ifakara on 12th July 2010, the Bishop of Mahenge Diocese Bishop Agapiti Ndorobo, said that they should be moved by the condition of the victims. This will help them overcome the stigma which is rampant in the community.

Citing verses from Gospel Bishop Ndorobo said that the volunteers should imitate the example of Jesus Christ who felt pity on conditions of victims who suffered chronic diseases and healed them. “Healing for you in your mission is to deliver quality care and support to the Patients” he said.

He insisted that the awareness of Tuberculosis is of great importance and very much needed to combat the stigma associated with TB. The education shall help the people to identify the symptoms of the disease early enough and seek medical treatment from the health centres immediately to avoid spreading it to other people or becoming chronically ill.

Report from TB programme from Kilombero district said that the magnitude of the TB problem became bigger since 1983 after HIV/AIDS disease was discovered in the area. Morogoro region, where Mahenge Diocese is located is ranked among the regions with highest number of TB patients.

Fr Paschal Luhengo the coordinator of the project in the diocese of Mahenge said that one of the biggest challenges the TB patients are facing is the insufficiency of the nutrition which is important for the patient starting the TB treatment. However, they are trying to bring awareness to the community so as to be involved in giving proper palliative care to the patients including nutrition.

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TAGS: Tanzania Mahenge diocese Tuberculosis disease Bishop Agapiti Ndorobo education Catholic Church

[07/19/2010]

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