Gweru City Council director of health services Samson Sekenhamo has said Midlands State University (MSU) students are at risk of catching tuberculosis (TB).
He said this is a result of the institution’s inability to provide accommodation for all students has resulted in the unfortunate students seeking off campus accommodation. Speaking during a preparatory meeting for the belated World TB Day to be held at MSU campus on March 29, Mr Sekenhamo said the overcrowding of students had a high likelihood of increasing the risk of spreading of TB among students. Said Sekenhamho:
Midlands State University has student population of about 20 000 students of which the greater proportion of them reside in Senga, Nehosho, KMP and Adelaide Park areas, thereby increasing the risk of spread of TB due to overcrowding and occupation population density coupled with poor ventilation in most of the dwellings,
Sekenhamo said most students at MSU were defaulting TB treatment due to stigmatisation and this has increased cases of multi-drug resistant TB cases.
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