219 MDR TB patients cured at Taung decentralised TB Unit
A decision by North West Health MEC Dr. Magome Masike to decentralise treatment of Multi Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (MDR TB) is yielding positive results for people of Taung. A total 219 MDR TB patients have been completely cured from the deadly disease at Taung Hospital MDR TB Unit.
Bethuel Sokhupa is one the cured the cured patients.
“The fight against MDR TB is one the difficult battles thus far. I was away from my family but I thank nurses and doctors at the hospital who helped me pull through,” Sokhupa said.
Mr. Sokhupa was admitted in February 2016 and discharged three months later to continue treatment at home. He said he was over joyed when hospital personnel confirmed to him that he was completely cured from MDR TB.
The unit was opened in September 2009. Initially patients were transferred to Klerksdorp Tshepong Hospital Complex for treatment.
MDR TB expertise were initially centralised at Klerksdorp Tshepong Hospital Complex, Dr. Masike said.
“We brought together expertise and mobilised the resources to have a better understanding of how to manage these challenging disease. Once we have harnessed the best knowledge and model, we got confident that we are doing the right thing then we started the process of decentralization,” MEC Masike said.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
