Eastern Cape health authorities will kick off a R250 million tuberculosis awareness campaign on Thursday, an official said. Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said three district municipalities: OR Tambo, Amathole and the Nelson Mandela metro, were declared as tuberculosis crisis areas in 2006.
"That status remains," said Kupelo, adding that about 53 000 people contract tuberculosis in the province every year. He said health authorities have set aside R250 million for an awareness and treatment campaign.
"We see a high default on treatment by people, and then they develop multi-drug resistant TB. It is not only dangerous to those patients but also very expensive for us as government to treat," said Kupelo.
He said health authorities will travel to rural areas in Mount Frere on Thursday to meet traditional leaders, local politicians and the communities. The campaign will inform people that tuberculosis is a treatable disease, even if a person is HIV positive, and warn people of the dangers of defaulting on their medication.
"Our main aim is to get the default rate down," said Kupelo. The R250 million will also be used to upgrade health facilities in Mthatha, he added
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2009
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)
