World Health Organization has called upon countries in Africa to implement the STOP TB strategy in its entirety, Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) reported on Tuesday.

WHO Country representative Olusegun Babaniyi noted that systematic community mobilization will result in bringing a greater number of suspected TB cases to the health facility for scanning.

Babaniyi added that improving access to good quality services will also result in increased and prompt diagnosis of patients. He said this today in a speech read on his behalf by WHO TB Advisor Dr. Mwendaweli Maboshe during the World TB Celebrations in Mongu District.

Babaniyi disclosed that currently, 1.3 million TB cases were notified in African Region in 2007 compared to 1.1 million cases in 2005, according to ZANIS.

Zambia's Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said Tuberculosis still remains a major public health problem in the country and is still among the top 10 causes of death.

Simbao said government is scanning and strengthening up the STOP TB strategy which is being implemented through out the country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2009)