World TB Day raises awareness about the epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. 70 percent of people with HIV are currently infected with TB. The Department of Health organises the day to highlight the scope of the disease and how to prevent and cure it.
The annual event on 24 March marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch detected the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. This was a first step towards diagnosing and curing tuberculosis. The Department of Health is working to cut TB prevalence rates and deaths by half by 2015 as part of its millennium development goals (MDG).
The year 2010 marks the halfway point for the MDGs. It is clearer than ever that we must scale up efforts and continue to seek new and innovative ways to stop TB if we are to achieve our targets. We have made considerable progress. But the evidence points to an urgent need to do more, does it better and do it faster.
The theme of innovation speaks to the need for a new way forward. The slogan on the move against tuberculosis reflects this theme through a simple, flexible and easily translatable phrase. This year’s event will focus on new construction methods to provide more wards for the in-hospital management of TB by show casing a completed Manguzi Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB unit which the first of the fast track modular steel type construction. The aim for this type of innovation is to accelerate the provinces commitment to increase the number of MDR TB beds in the province.
Journalists are invited to the World TB Day event to be addressed by the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to be held as follows:
Date: 24 March 2010
Time: 09h00
Venue: Manguzi hospital
The key messages are:
(i) Find new and better tools to fight tuberculosis.
There are important advances in TB diagnosis, management and treatment over the past few years, but more resources are needed to turn scientific discoveries into new and better drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.
(ii) Communities have a role to play in the eradication of TB.
Families and communities must help in providing support to those infected with TB by ensuring that they access healthcare services as early as possible. They also need to provide care to those sick with both HIV and TB.
(iii) Reach more people with tuberculosis care.
Across the province fewer people who become sick with TB fail to access timely, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. We need innovative ways to reach more people. All women, men and children, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to TB care.
(iv) Forge new and stronger partnerships to reach the country’s targets.
The year 2010 marks the halfway point for the MDG to. We can meet these goals, but only if we put in place innovative approaches and work together in new and different ways.
Contact:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 285 0567
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
16 March 2010
