27 April 2026 – Harare, Zimbabwe
Senior government health officials have credited the Combat Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Project with strengthening Zimbabwe’s national response at a time when the country continues to face a high burden of DR-TB.
During a field visit to Harare, a KELIN delegation led by Executive Director Allan Maleche met with Dr. Kavenga, Zimbabwe’s AIDS & TB unit Deputy Director and National TB Program Manager at the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The meeting was coordinated by Donald D Tobaiwa, Executive Director of Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation , a key in-country partner on the project.
Dr. Kavenga shared an encouraging assessment of the project’s contribution, noting that it had come at an important moment for Zimbabwe’s TB response.
“The project is making an impact, and it came in at the right time,” he said, pointing to the country’s classification among the highest-burden DR-TB settings as a reminder of the need for sustained technical partnership.
Zimbabwe is making steady progress in managing drug-resistant tuberculosis. Treatment success improved from 42% in 2020 to 68% in 2024 and uptake of the BPAL/M regimen is around 90%, with 10% not being eligible for the regimen. Diagnosis has also improved, with near point-of-care molecular testing bringing faster services closer to communities.
At the same time, significant gaps remain. More than half of DR-TB cases are still being missed, and uptake of preventive therapy, particularly with levofloxacin for contacts, remains low. These gaps highlight the need to strengthen prevention alongside expanding access to shorter, all-oral treatment regimens.
The Combat DR-TB Project has supported this effort in several key areas, including strengthening patient outcome tracking through cohort analysis, improving coordination of complex cases through DR-TB concilia, building the capacity of frontline health workers, and informing the development of a national DR-TB action plan.
TB survivors driving response, but funding gaps remain
A key theme emerging from the discussion was the growing role of TB survivors in supporting community-level response efforts. Dr. Kavenga noted that survivors are already playing an active role in reaching patients and supporting adherence, but sustaining their involvement remains a challenge.
“We look forward to having domestic resources to support them, including social contracting and similar mechanisms, so that they can continue this work,” he said.
This reflects a broader recognition that community-led support is essential to effective TB programmes but requires consistent investment to sustain.
Strengthening coordination across sectors
Zimbabwe’s Multi-Sectoral Accountability Framework (MAF), launched in January 2023, has helped bring greater structure to the national response. Following an initial baseline assessment and gap analysis, sector-specific plans with clear actions have been developed.
The technical inputs and analysis generated through the Combat DR-TB Project have contributed to this process and continue to support coordination across sectors.
Prisons remain a critical frontier
Dr. Kavenga also highlighted the prison system as a critical but challenging area of the TB response. The Ministry of Health is working with prison authorities to screen inmates at entry and release, provide treatment within facilities, and ensure continuity of care after release.
Support has also been extended through diagnostics and staff training
Looking ahead
The Ministry of Health and Child Care is currently reviewing its national strategic plan, with DR-TB priorities expected to be embedded in the revised framework.
Insights and tools developed through the Combat DR-TB Project, including gap analyses, action planning, and field engagement, are now well positioned to inform the next phase of Zimbabwe’s TB response.
For more information:
Duke Otieno
Project Coordinator – COMBAT DRTB
KELIN
Email: dukeotieno@kelinkenya.org
Yeukai Chiranga
Project Coordinator – COMBAT DRTB
Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation
Email: yeukai@jointedhands.org
