North West cure first extreme drug resistance TB in South Africa

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that continues to kill many people each year, particularly those who do not receive treatment on time. It is prevalent among people who are co-infected with TB and HIV. However, the North West Department of Health has improved integrated care of patients co-infected with TB and HIV from 38% in 2009 to 83% in 2011. This is due to the HIV Counseling and Testing campaign that started in April 2010.

The Extreme Drug Resistance TB Unit opened in Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex in 2010 is already making much needed differences. The National Department of Health's Communicable Disease Directorate recently confirmed first completely cured XDR TB patient in South Africa, as a result of the Unit in Klerksdorp. Two more XDR TB patients’ were declared completely cured early this year resulting in a total of three completely cured XDR TB patients. The North West is the first province to successfully complete treatment of an XDR TB patient.

The province is now experiencing a drop of TB deaths from 8.2% in 2009 to 7.3% and an increase of healing TB patients. The cure rate has improved from 40% to 67% in 2011, which is a greater than 25% increase in healing TB patients.

Though the province continues to do well, late reporting of patients to health facilities and patients who continue to default treatment remain a concern. Defaulter rate is a cause for concern since non-compliance to treatment is the major contributing factor to Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB and Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR) TB. Treating MDR/XDR TB is very costly as compared to treating an ordinary TB. This puts a huge strain on the department given the numerous and complex public health challenges it is facing.

Through its campaigns, the provincial department continues teaching communities about the TB epidemic and the treatment thereof, ahead of World TB Day that will be commemorated on 24 March 2012. The North West will commemorate World TB Day on 23 March in YIZO YIZO, a mining community (informal settlement) near Rustenburg.

Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: Tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za