MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The Somali government has prohibited the selling of anti-tuberculosis drugs in pharmacies and drugstores.
Ms. Fowzia Abukar Noor, Somali Health Minister said irregularity in the administration of these drugs to patients and lack of proper monitoring which is hindering efforts to check the disease
“Tuberculosis (TB) in Somalia has affected the public badly. We are supported by partners to provide free medicine to the patients but There are imported counterfeit medicine therefore that is one of the factors influence the spread of the disease,” the minister said.
She called on the patients to seek free medicine and not spend their money on counterfeit drugs.
“I warn people against the over-the-counter-purchase when they can get drugs free of charge. Rather taking the counterfeit drug, it is better for the person to stay without medication,” she stated.
The latest estimate for all forms of TB in Somalia was 290 per 100 000population in 2009.
The incidence of sputum smear-positive cases was 160 per 100 000 population.
In recent years, high reported incidence rates of TB have made it a priority for national health authorities, WHO and their partners.
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