Malawi’s First Lady, Monica Chakwera, has assumed the role of Malawi’s Tuberculosis (TB) Champion, a significant appointment lauded by health activists and experts as a symbol of unwavering political commitment to eradicate TB by 2030.
Mrs. Chakwera was officially bestowed with this title during a meeting with the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Program (NTLEP), PARADISO TB Patients Trust, and the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives on Wednesday.
As the TB Champion, the First Lady will play a crucial role in several key areas, including mobilizing financial resources for TB, combating stigma and discrimination against TB-affected individuals, advocating for improved nutrition for TB patients, promoting multi-sectoral involvement, and encouraging community engagement in the fight against TB.
Dr. James Mpunga, Program Manager for NTLEP, emphasized that Mrs. Chakwera’s acceptance of the TB Champion role signifies a significant milestone in Malawi’s quest to eliminate TB by 2030. He further noted her commitment to addressing gender disparities within the TB response and reducing stigma and discrimination in TB care.
TB remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, and in Malawi, the TB/HIV co-infection rate remains high at 45%. To combat this challenge, Malawi is implementing the End TB Strategy, which aims to reduce TB-related deaths and TB incidence rates compared to 2015 levels, among other goals.
