The Department of Health and Social Development together with Nelson Mandela Aventis Project for Combating Tuberculosis (TB) known as TBFREE has successfully completed its training of 797 Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) supporters in an effort to curb TB defaulter rate in the province. This training follows a slightly over recommended defaulter rate of five percent in the past two years.
The DOT supporters who were declared competent at the end of training conducted between January 2009 and January 2010 have been deployed to provide service in clinics within their communities. These DOT supporters will be assigned by TB nurses and allocated patients from within their communities whom they must assist with continuous support to comply with their treatment requirements to the end.
The DOT supporters will use 28 dedicated TB vehicles provided by the department to visit TB patients in an effort to address the current low TB cure rate caused by TB patients who continue to default treatment.
Defaulter rate is a cause for concern in the department since non-compliance to treatment is the major contributing factor to Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) 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.
As a build-up towards World TB Day to be commemorated on 24 March 2010 in Pudumoeng Township, Taung the department has engaged in activities in an effort to raise public awareness about TB. TB management directorate together with health promoters and volunteers have since Monday been busy with intensive awareness campaigns at the epidemic’s high risk areas such as taxi ranks etc. and door to door visits in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
TB today remains an epidemic, causing the deaths of several million people each year despite being curable.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, North West Provincial Government
18 March 2010
