The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, together with the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo presented drawing materials, soccer balls and hope to the children (under 13 years) admitted at the King George V Hospital in Durban.
The Deputy Minister was in the province ahead of the World TB Day commemoration where the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, is expected to pronounce innovations in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa.
South Africa, with a TB burden ranked third in the world, is one of the 22 high burden countries that contribute approximately 80% 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% of all cases. Nine of the high TB burden districts in the nine 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.
“EThekwini is the epicentre of the TB pandemic and King George Hospital manages 50% of the Multidrug resistant tuberculosis cases in the province. What is sad is that children are increasingly suffering from TB because they get it from their parents, relatives and/or where they live,” Dr Dhlomo said at the children’s event held at King George V Hospital today.
“We are awaiting with abetted breath the ‘marching orders’ that will be announced by the Minister tomorrow so that we all can make sure that our children grow up in a TB free environment.”
King George Hospital has treated 323 multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB cases of children and 33 extremely drug resistant (XDR) TB cases since 1997. There is now a school which has been opened in the hospital to ensure that children do not loose on school while they are receiving the 18 month long MDR and CDR-TB treatment.
Dr Ramokgopa thanked the leadership in the province for excellent work in the fight against TB. He particularly thanked the management of King George Hospital for “taking care of the very ill of our people”.
“Children are the hope of our future,” said Deputy Minister. “Any country that fails to provide a safe environment for its children has a blique picture for its future. We are very excited with the efforts that everyone is putting into this fight. The Minister will share with us on new innovations and make a contribution to a future without TB. Let’s do it for the kids!”
The Deputy Minister and the MEC distributed painting materials, soccer balls and other recreational materials to the kids to keep them busy during their long stay in hospital. The materials were sponsored by Lilly TB, Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) and National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS).
South Africa's fight against TB is set to receive a major boost tomorrow when health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will be unveiling new technology to be used in the fight against TB at an event to be held in Prince Mshiyeni hospital, Durban.
The new technology, unveiled as South Africa marks World TB Day tomorrow, is able to complete TB testing in two hours as opposed to the current three (3) weeks. The equipment has been purchased to improve turn-around times in the testing of the human specimen of TB. The health Minister will also be introducing a Geographical Information System (GIS) software which enables easy management of TB information detailing area and individual profile. South Africa is among three countries in the world with a high burden of TB a matter that has been identified as critical in reducing the country's disease burden
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