Short-course tuberculosis chemotherapy in rural Somalia

An 18-month study of tuberculosis patients treated using the 6-8-month short-course chemotherapy in Luuq district situated in the north-east of Gedo region in the south-west of Somalia is presented. From July 1994 to December 1995, 213 patients were passively identified, started on treatment and followed up. Sputum smear-positive patients were monitored using smear examination. The outcome of treatment for all patients was evaluated at the end of July 1996. An overall cure/treatment completed rate of 70% was achieved. The paper concludes that short-course chemotherapy under directly observed therapy is a useful tuberculosis control strategy, even in areas of conflict.