Regional Medics hail Rwanda TB Program

Regional Medical Practitioners who have been in Rwanda for a one- week course have commended Rwanda’s Program in overcoming Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. They were undertaking a week’s training on Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB) that closed on Friday. The medics hailed from eight countries in Africa George Matope, a TB Program Coordinator from Malawi, said he has benefited a lot from the 5-day training. “This course has equipped me with managerial skills that will help me in managing drug resistant TB cases in my country. I have learnt some of the best practices of managing and treating DRTB,”Matope said. He stated that he would initiate what he has learnt in his own country so as to fight Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, just like how Rwanda is doing right now. Matope also noted that the TB Centre of Excellence in Rwanda came at the right time when it was needed due to the increasing number of people suffering from MDR Tuberculosis. Cosmas Mwamburi, a District TB Co-ordinator from Kenya, noted that the training was very educative. “The Rwanda TB Program is well managed and there is a lot to learn; how to manage MDR TB and how to manage the side effects of the drugs used,”Mwamburi said. He also praised the MDR treatment Centre in Kabutare which he said was a good structure and well managed. “The way the MDR TB patients are managed in Kabutare is amazing and the health workers there are very welcoming. I would want to see the same being implemented back in Kenya,”Mwamburi added. Mwamburi said that there are approximately 500 patients suffering from MDR TB in Kenya. Claude Rutanga, head of the TB infection Control Unit in Rwanda said that, the trainees improved their technical capacity and knowledge in managing MDR TB. Ends