Zambezi records 400 tuberculosis cases in one year

A total of 403 tuberculosis (TB) cases were recorded in the Zambezi region between April 2024 and March 2025, with 11 deaths recorded over the same period.

These figures were provided by Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu in a statement delivered on his behalf by Zambezi health director Woita Kapumburu at a belated World TB Day commemoration at Nakabolelwa in the Kabbe South constituency on Thursday.

Sampofu emphasised the urgent need for increased public awareness and collaborative efforts to combat the disease.

“TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer, killing more people than any other infectious disease, and it is a major public health challenge globally. As one of the countries constantly among the countries with the highest TB burden per capita in the world, we need to galvanise our efforts to defeat this age-old disease,” he said.

Global statistics indicate 10.8 million people fell ill with TB in 2023, resulting in 1.25 million deaths.

However, Sampofu also acknowledged the significant progress made, saying medical interventions have saved an estimated 79 million lives since 2000.

“This is an indication that with the right policies and approaches we can defeat TB,” he said.

The governor said this year’s theme, ‘Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver’, aligns with the World Health Organisation’s goal to eradicate TB by 2035.

Additionally, Sampofu said Namibia has achieved a treatment success rate of 88% of all forms of TB, slightly below the WHO’s 90% target, while drug-resistant TB treatment success stands at 74%.

He also expressed concern over TB/HIV co-infections, noting the heightened risk for people living with HIV, and said integrated TB and HIV intervention programmes, including those for leprosy, are being implemented to address this challenge.