A Tuberculosis patient in Sinazongwe district in Zambia has advised government to sensitise rural communities in order to help discard myths that indicated that TB is caused through witchcraft.
Eliya Gotomani is of the view that the ministry of health should carry out the campaign to educate the rural communities on the dangers of delaying treatment of the disease.
Mrs. Gotomani said some rural communities in Sinazongwe district still believe that Tuberculosis is spread through witchcraft.
This came to light in Sinazongwe yesterday during activities held to commemorate World TB day.
Mrs Gotomani of Sinazeze village told the audience that some villagers, who are suspected to be suffering from TB, resort to seeking treatment from witch finders under the mistaken belief that they have been bewitched.
Mrs Gotomani, who is a TB patient, said she was also a victim of such myths as she spent most of her time visiting various witch finders in trying to find a cure to her ailment.
She said she only went to a rural health centre for conventional medicine when her condition deteriorated.
She is now happy that she has been able to get well after being put on TB treatment.
And speaking during the same function, Sinazongwe district commissioner Laiven Apuleni called for collective responsibility towards combating TB which he said is curable.
In a speech read on his behalf by district HIV/AIDS coordination advisor, Laster Nambale, Mr Apuleni urged the people of Sinazongwe to join efforts in combating TB.