On 24 March last, World Tuberculosis Day, Malteser International set up a special initiative for combating the disease in Southern Sudan. After examining 36 inmates in the Yei prison, one patient was found to have TB. At the same time, sleeping sickness was monitored and three cases were found out of the 126 people examined. The Order of Malta’s International Relief Corps initiated talks with prison authorities in the attempt to hospitalize these patients.

Tuberculosis and AIDS are priorities of the Malteser International’s medical assistance service in Africa. A one-day seminar was held in the city of Yei for teachers from three countries, during which they were made aware of the issues and informed about the role they can play in reducing the impact of TB and the spread of the HIV virus in schools.

A team of 18 members from the Malteser International’s staff participated in a three-day “training trainers” seminar on the same topic.