Penduka brings TB support closer to the people

THE new Penduka TB office opened its doors in the Disability Resource Centre in Okuryangava this week.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a big problem in Namibia and the country has one of the highest infection rates in the world. Unlike HIV-AIDS, TB is a curable disease.However, because of stigmatisation and its association with HIV-AIDS, many patients do not complete their treatments and this has led to drug-resistant strains of TB.An extremely drug-resistant strain was reported in neighbouring South Afarica recently.Namibia hopes to minimise this devastating change in the disease through its DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Support) programme.The DOTS community-based programme encourages patients to continue with their treatment for the full six months.Penduka has been managing a TB programme for the past five years.The Penduka TB office employs 14 permanent and 10 part-time staff, most of whom used to suffer from TB and therefore understand the problems faced by patients.They are currently supporting over 200 patients at 10 DOT points and many more at clinics and health centres in Katutura.Penduka offers patients support and supervision of treatment programmes, and also provides health and nutritional education.Patients are given the opportunity to lean new skills and generate an income from crafts such as bead making, wire art, sewing and gardening.Penduka also traces TB sufferers who have abandoned their treatment and encourages them to restart treatment.All these activities are funded by the Global Fund and the Norwegian Association of Heart and Lung Patients.The Penduka TB office was opened in Okuryangava to be closer to the people and it is also situated next to the AIDS Care Trust to ensure better co-ordination between the two organisations.Unlike HIV-AIDS, TB is a curable disease.However, because of stigmatisation and its association with HIV-AIDS, many patients do not complete their treatments and this has led to drug-resistant strains of TB.An extremely drug-resistant strain was reported in neighbouring South Afarica recently.Namibia hopes to minimise this devastating change in the disease through its DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Support) programme.The DOTS community-based programme encourages patients to continue with their treatment for the full six months.Penduka has been managing a TB programme for the past five years.The Penduka TB office employs 14 permanent and 10 part-time staff, most of whom used to suffer from TB and therefore understand the problems faced by patients.They are currently supporting over 200 patients at 10 DOT points and many more at clinics and health centres in Katutura.Penduka offers patients support and supervision of treatment programmes, and also provides health and nutritional education.Patients are given the opportunity to lean new skills and generate an income from crafts such as bead making, wire art, sewing and gardening.Penduka also traces TB sufferers who have abandoned their treatment and encourages them to restart treatment.All these activities are funded by the Global Fund and the Norwegian Association of Heart and Lung Patients.The Penduka TB office was opened in Okuryangava to be closer to the people and it is also situated next to the AIDS Care Trust to ensure better co-ordination between the two organisations.