Karonga District Hospital through World Tuberculosis Program has installed a new x-ray machine that has capacity to electronically screen and detect symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) in the lungs of patients.

Speaking during the installation, chief radiography technician at the hospital, Joseph Mvuche Gondwe said the coming in of the new x-ray machine will help to reduce work as well as time of waiting for the results.

District Tuberculosis Officer Samson Chitsulo, said the machine will help to improve accuracy in the interpretation of chest X-rays of suspected TB patients.

Chitsulo further said the machine will also help patients to receive treatment at the right time since detection of the disease can be done immediately unlike in the past when it could take more hours and in some cases days.

A TB patient Catherine Mandota was excited about the development and he encouraged residents of Karonga to go for screening and scanning whenever they develop TB signs.