October 2006
27 October 2006
Event: TB Active Case Finding Event
Venue: Meloding Stadium, Virginia
Time: Saturday, 28 October 2006
07:00 * 09:00: Sputum Collections
09:00 * 12:00: Formal Programme
TB Road Shows will move through towns in Matjhabeng on Friday, 27 October
2006.
As part of the active case finding campaign, people who have signs and
symptoms of TB can present themselves for sputum testing from 07:00 on
Saturday, 28 October 2006 at the Meloding Stadium in Virginia. This will be
ongoing throughout the TB Active Case Finding Event.
The event is organised to promote the health of the Free State community by
raising awareness of health issues such as TB. It also demonstrates the
strength in collaboration between the public and private sector communities in
the fight against TB.
Most TB patients originate from the Matjhabeng local area and it also
happens to be an area where the goldmines are situated. It became necessary to
make people, especially in this area aware of the importance of reporting their
movements to their health facilities whilst still on TB treatment since they
time-and-again leave their working areas to go back to their homes and the
local health facilities are there to provide support and TB treatment.
The programme faces some challenges as patients present themselves late at
the health facilities as a result of a lack of awareness about the disease and
the stigma associated with TB. There is also poor adherence to treatment, which
is a result of a lack of understanding of the importance of complying with the
treatment prescribed.
Enquiries:
Gela Naud�
Principal Communication Officer
Free State Department of Health
Tel: (051) 408 1278
Fax: (051) 408 1055
Cell: 082 381 9483
E-mail: naudeg@fshealth.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
27 October 2006
