According to a report released during the Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seminar in Gauteng, more than 81% of people who were screened, tested and diagnosed with TB in the province’s public health facilities have been cured.
The latest statistics which showed an increase from 64% in 2004 to 81% in June this year has encouraged the province to strengthen the fight against TB.
These positive results were achieved because of an intensified TB management programme that involved door-to-door campaigns by Community Health Workers and Directly Observed Treatment Support. Through this approach, defaulters were traced and brought back for treatment. This has also helped ensure that more people take the test.
In the 2010/11 financial year, 52 118 new TB cases were diagnosed.
The province is expecting the number of cases diagnosed as well as the cure rate to increase in the current financial year because of the introduction of two Gene-Xpert machines located in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Edenvale Hospital.
These machines which were allocated to the province in March this year help shorten the time taken to diagnose TB from two weeks to two hours. Between March and November 2011, 16 189 tests have been conducted using Gene-Xpert machine and 2 195 were positive and are currently undergoing treatment.
During the seminar, the department acknowledged districts that have intensified efforts of improving TB management which include achieving a high cure rate, increasing awareness about the disease, educating people to complete treatment as well as educating communities on infection control.
In appreciating the efforts of these districts, the department gave out awards.
The City of Joburg scooped the first prize; the contributing factors were the city’s high case load and the high cure rates.
Ekurhuleni took the second prize and that was because of the increased smear conversion rate, increased cure rate and low defaulter rate.
The West Rand came in at third place and they also had a high cure rate and low defaulter rate.
The award for best improved district went to Sedibeng.
The Department’s awareness campaigns emphasize that TB is curable after six months of treatment even in people living with HIV.
Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development MEC Ntombi Mekgwe said, “I want to urge those who are on treatment to stay on the course and complete treatment thus avoiding Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB. Further I would like to appeal to everyone who may have symptoms to seek treatment before it is too late.”
The signs and symptoms of TB are: persistent cough for two weeks or more; night sweating, loss of weight, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, chills, loss of appetite and tiredness.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
