The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, HE Kgalema Mothlante will officially open a Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) unit at Catherine Booth Hospital this Sunday, 10 April 2011.
The official opening of the MDR-TB unit follows the World TB Day which was commemorated on 24 March at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital with fan fare and where the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, made far reaching announcements in respect to the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa. He announced interventions that the Department of Health will institute over a period of time intended to arrest and reverse the scourge of TB in South Africa. The interventions will be implemented in such a manner that they will foster closer integration between TB and HIV services, within a re-engineered health system based on the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach.
South Africa, with a Tuberculosis (TB) burden ranked third in the world, is one of the 22 high burden countries that contribute approximately 80 percent of the total global burden of all TB cases. About 407,000 cases of TB were notified in 2009, with KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape accounting for almost 50 percent of all cases. Nine of the high TB burden districts in the 9 respective provinces account had about 155,000 TB cases. Of the several factors underlying South Africa’s TB epidemic, the following are of paramount importance; (i) late and inadequate detection of TB cases, and (ii) ineffective diagnostic techniques with results confirming TB made available after long period of time.
Dr Dhlomo, MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, has said; “We are not proud in opening these MDR-TB units as they are an indication that we are not succeeding in the fight against TB.” He further said that communities, especially leaders, need to play a key role in curbing the spread of TB in the province. He challenged faith and traditional leaders to ensure that they know every person who has TB in their congregations and communities.
“This would help us, as healthcare providers, in tracing those who do not complete their treatment. When somebody did not come for treatment, our nurses and community healthcare workers must report such a person to iNkosi or Priest.” This would, he said, eliminate the need for these MDR-TB units and the spread of the resistant form of TB.
Journalists are invited to attend the event which will take place as follows:
Date: Sunday, 10 April 2011
Time: 07h30
Venue: Catherine Booth Hospital
Transport has been arranged for journalists, kindly RSVP with: chris.maxon@kznhealth.gov.za. Journalists are advised to bring their ID documents.
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
