19 March 2007
On Saturday, 24 March 2007, the whole world will in unison, observe the
World TB Day. The day is designed to build public awareness that Tuberculosis
(TB) today remains an epidemic in much of the world, our country included.
Of more concern recently is that more and more people are increasingly
becoming resistant to the normal regiment of TB treatment. This situation makes
treatment of TB to be more expensive for the state for it only cost R400 00 to
treat normal TB, whereas it cost between R24 000 to R30 000 for the Multi-Drug
Resistant TB (MDR-TB).
It is now a matter of common cause that TB is a national crisis.
Accordingly, Mpumalanga Department of Health and Social Services has already
put in place a TB crisis plan. Since the implementation of this plan, which in
the main seeks to improve data capturing at facility level, consistent follow
up of patients and intensive social mobilisation, we have already recorded an
impressive improvement on the cure rate in the province. Nkangala District is
the most affected district with high TB cases. Challenges that have been
identified is high defaulter rate, where people do not complete medication once
they feel better, high mobility of people; moving from one place to the other,
thereby not being able to be followed up.
Other interventions that we continue to employ are the strengthening of the
Directly Observed Treatment Strategy (DOTS) support teams in our communities.
These people play a critical role because they are rooted in our communities,
and know not only the medical situation of our people, but also their economic
situation. Through their support, patients are able to complete their
medication, and attend their follow up visits to the clinics and ensure that
there is something to eat before taking pills.
Our success on the fight against TB:
Since the implementation of the crisis plan, we have already seen an
improvement on our treatment rate (people who present and are put on treatment
of six months) from 56 percent to 61,1 percent. Our cure rate (people who
completes the six months treatment and get healed) has improved drastically
from 32 percent to 52 percent. Our smear conversion rate (people who visit the
clinic after two months on treatment, and their saliva convert, showing
improvement) has risen from 35,3 percent to 54 percent. The interruption rate
(people defaulting) has been reduced 12,9 percent to 11 percent. Our backlog on
evaluating cases timeously has reduced from 25 percent to 11,5 percent.
Much of this success has been realised through improved allocation of
resources to this programme, employment of more people and making TB a
standalone directorate in the province. Going forward, we are confident of even
better improvement.
Current TB status in Mpumalanga:
The most common types of TB include; Pulmonary TB (TB of the lungs); Pleural
Effusion (lung tissues surrounded by fluid); TB of the bones; TB meningitis; TB
of the heart muscles and TB peritoneum.
To date we have 23 Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB patients at the MDR-TB unit
in Witbank and 65 MDR TB patients in the communities. We have one Extreme Drug
Resistant TB (XDR) patient at our TB hospital in Witbank. It is important to
note however that this patient was diagnosed in Limpopo and only transferred to
Mpumalanga because she lives in one of the areas in our province.
Our observation of the World TB Day will place at Nokaneng sports fields in
the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality in Nkangala District. Details
hereunder:
Date: 24 March 2007
Venue: Nokaneng Sports Fields
Time: 10h00
NB: Media is invited.
Enquiries:
Mpho Gabashane
Cell: 082 802 4937
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Services, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
19 March 2007
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
