(TB) day
19 March 2009
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major causes of illness and death in many
countries and a significant public health problem worldwide.
South Africa is one of the 22 high burden countries that contribute
approximately 80 percent of the total global burden of all TB cases. During the
past ten years the incidence of TB has increased, in parallel to the increase
in the estimated prevalence of HIV in the adult population. This has resulted
in the increasing recognition of the problems posed to public health by TB.
Tuberculosis is a major health problem in Mpumalanga. The number of TB cases
(people infected with TB) has increased from 10 631 in 2004 to 20 021 in 2007.
About 70 percent of patients are in the age group of 25 to 55 years.
This has adverse affects to the income of their families as well as the
income production of society and the Province. The province has improved TB
treatment tremendously over the past three years. This is partly due to more
focus, resources, both financial and human resource being invested in this area
of work.
This has resulted in a gradual improvement in the management of TB in the
province. The provincial TB cure rate(people who are treated for sic months and
heal) for new smear positive cases has improved from 42 percent in 2004 to 56
percent in 2006. The TB defaulter rate (people not completing their six months
treatment) remains high at 11 percent as well as the death rate (people who die
as result of TB) at 10 percent.
Poor adherence to prescribed medication and interrupted treatment of TB not
only fails to cure TB but often results in multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains
which require long and more complex treatment. MDR-TB is TB that does not
respond to at least two of the first line drugs and the treatment is up to 24
months. The Province currently has 302 patients on treatment of which 99 are in
the ward whilst 203 are on community Direct Observed Treatment (DOT). Extreme
Drug Resistant (XDR-TB) is TB that does not respond to first and second line
drugs and the treatment lasts more than 36 months.
One other key aspect for the fight against TB is community awareness and
support to people infected with TB. There continues a myth that equates TB to
HIV and Aids which adds on the stigma, thus preventing people to come out
openly to talk or present early in health facilities.
It is important to note that TB is infectious; hence it is extremely
important for people to present as early as possible to health facilities for
treatment. Once the patient with TB starts on treatment within a very short
period of time they are not infective and they donât spread TB to other
people.
TB is infectious, and can be transmitted when a person talks, cough, spits
or sneezes and the germ is spread into the air and the others can breathe it
in. symptoms of TB include amongst others excessive cough over a two week
period, loss of weight and appetite, sweating at night even when is cold,
feeling tired and weak, pain in the chest shortage of breath and fever.
As mentioned earlier another challenge is for people to complete their six
months treatment. It is very much important and requires family and community
support to people on treatment.
It is once more important to know that TB preventable and curable. TB
treatment is free at all public health facilities.
Most important prevention methods of TB include the following:
* Eating of Healthy foods (vegetable, fruits, milk, amasi, brown bread,
maize meal, locusts, Mopani worms, eggs, meat, fish etc)
* Exercise regularly to keep your muscles strong
* Alcohol should be avoided because it lowers body resistance
* Smoking causes further damage to the lungs and can also cause heart diseases
lung cancer
* Encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to keep the windows
open, to allow air to move freely in an out of their houses/workplaces
* Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
* Immunisation of all babies at the clinic
* Visit your nearest clinic once you suspect you have TB
* It is important to complete treatment to be cured.
Details of the event are as follows:
Venue: Naas Stadium (Nkomazi Local Municipality)
Date: Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Time: 09h00
MEC fish Mahlalela will deliver a keynote address.
Media is invited.
NB: TB can be cured even if you are HIV positive
âStop TB and complete your treatment.â
For more information contact
Mpho Gabashane
Cell: 082 802 4937
Issued by: Department of Health, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
19 March 2009
