The long wait by Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis (TB) patients before being initiated on treatment is over. We would recall that these patients were unable to start treatment as soon as their cases are confirmed because of long waiting lists in hospitals that are declared MDR TB sites. This has resulted in a number of patients dying while on the waiting list and others defaulting.
The idea of having a satellite clinic has been the hospital management’s dream but a number of obstacles were hampering them from making it a reality. One of the major challenges was the unavailability of a structure that can be used. Thanks to the Good Samaritarians from the University Research Co. that donated a spacious park home specifically for this project.
This brought light to all roleplayers, including Uthukela Health District, that indeed this dream could be a reality and they all came on board to assist with logistics for this institution to be declared a MDR satellite. All the hard work paid off when the MDR TB clinic officially opened its doors to patients on January 15.
It was a good feeling for all the role players and no words could explain their appreciation.This was part of their dream from the start and they could not hold back their joy. Clients and patients applauded the team for working tirelessly to successfully decentralise MDR treatment and vowed that all their lifelong woes in the fight against this drug resistant TB will soon come to an end.
The MDR TB clinic will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will focus on initiating treatment and at a later stage patients belonging to this district will be down referred for further management. This will assist in the reduction of the defaulter rate because patients will be closer to their relatives and in touch with their social lives. The clinic will serve the entire Uthukela district and will solely work with bookings from different facilities.Therefore if you need such a service, please contact your clinic and you will be channelled accordingly.
