A Tuberculosis (TB) Crisis Plan to increase the number of people cured of the infection was launched on Friday by the Gauteng health department, the department said.
”Johannesburg was selected as an area of special focus to implement the TB Crisis Plan. In 2005 there were 18 275 new reported TB cases in Johannesburg alone,” said provincial health minister Brian Hlongwa in a statement.
According to Hlongwa, the number of TB cases reported in South Africa has increased over the past eight years. There are currently 550 cases per 100 000 people.
Some of the difficulties the department faces are late detection of the disease, poor adherence to treatment and high mobility of patients.
Many patients are not aware of the importance of completing their treatment.
The department hopes to improve diagnosis and treatment of TB at district level through the campaign, and to combat stigma and discrimination against people affected by the disease.
Hlongwa said Gauteng has the third-highest caseload of TB in the country after KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. These three provinces contribute about 80% of the total infection rate.
In a related anti-TB campaign, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will go door-to-door in Durban on Sunday, her department said. Spokesperson Mbali Thusi said the object of the campaign is to improve the early detection of TB and support patients.
The department also hopes to increase rates for successful treatment and cure. ”This will in turn … decrease the number of TB deaths and, most importantly, assist in lowering the rate of defaulters, which would prevent multi-drug-resistance TB.”
Tshabalala-Msimang and provincial health minister Peggy Nkonyeni’s door-to-door visits will end with a community event at Hammarsdale Stadium at 11am.
The campaign follows a resolution by the minister and provincial officials to create awareness about the serious TB crisis. ”TB is curable and the department offers free diagnosis and treatment of TB,” said Thusi.
The campaign is part of the National TB Management Crisis Plan, launched in Durban in March. — Sapa