New MDR TB unit to open at Gelukspan Hospital
The North West Department of Health will open a Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) Tuberculosis (TB) Unit at Gelukspan Hospital on Thursday, 6 March 2014. The unit forms part of decentralisation of MDR TB treatment model aimed at making TB treatment accessible and closer to communities.
MDR TB expertise were initially centralised in Tshepong/Klerksdorp Hospital Complex but a need to decentralise arose following the installation of Gene Xpert machine in various hospitals across the province. The Gene Xpert is a new test for tuberculosis. It can find out if a person is infected with TB within two hours and also if the TB bacterium of the person has resistance to one of the common TB drugs.
With the use of new technology more people are now being diagnosed with TB. A number of MDR TB cases increased from 375 in 2012 to 570 in 2013. The new cases far exceed bed capacity of 76 beds at Klerksdorp/ Tshepong Hospital Complex’s MDR TB Unit.
Members of the media are invited.
MEC Dr Magome Masike will deliver a keynote address.
Details are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 6 March 2013
Venue: Gelukspan Hospital
Time: 10h00
Statistics about TB in the North West province:
- About 19000 patients are currently on TB treatment.
- TB related deaths decreased from 8.2% in 2009 to 7.3% in 2012
- North West Province has cured three Extreme Drug Resistance (XDR) TB patients. The condition was deemed impossible to cure
- A number of MDR TB cases increased from 375 in 2012 to 570 in 2013
- A number of XDR TB cases increased from four in 2012 to 12 in 2014
- TB defaulter rate improved from 9, 2% in 2012 to 7,2% in 2013. This can be attributed to community health worker programme.
- Taung Hospital MDR TB Unit is fully functional. The unit forms part MDR TB decentralisation model. So far more than 20 patients have been initiated at the facility and 15 patients were completely cured.
- One hundred and twenty health care workers trained on MDR TB decentralisation model
- Thirteen more facilities have been earmarked for MDR TB decentralisation model
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane, Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
