tuberculosis (TB) indaba, Ilanga Estate, Bloemfontein
27 September 2007
Programme director
Honoured guest
Ladies and gentlemen:
We are all gathered here today to join hands in the Active TB Free State
Indaba. Today's event is of critical importance to the Free State Department of
Health because it demonstrates the strength in collaboration and partnership
between the public and private sector communities.
We are all conscious of our situation with regard to TB infection. We have
identified the importance of this Indaba here today as it has become necessary
that we promote the health of our people in the community by raising awareness
of health issues such as TB, and share among ourselves experiences and
wisdom.
It has also become necessary that we make people aware of the importance of
reporting one's movement to their health facility whilst still on TB treatment;
this will assist us in an event of tracing contacts.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to remind us of the Free State TB Control
Programme's crisis plan.
It aims at:
* flooding the communities with messages and activities to increase
awareness
* implementing emergency strategies from the crisis plan to control the
worsening tuberculosis epidemic
* rapidly improving tuberculosis case detection and treatment success
rates
* expanding provincial partnerships for TB control, especially with the mining
sector; correctional services and
* implementing strategies to reduce patient default and transfer out rates to
10 percent or less.
The programme faces some challenges as patients present late at our health
facilities due to a lack of awareness about the disease and the stigma
associated with TB. There is also poor adherence to treatment, which is a
result of lack of understanding of the importance of complying with the
treatment prescribed.
We have also found a low conversion rate of the positive smears at two or
three months because some people are reluctant to submit their sputum specimens
for testing for fear that if they should test negative they will forfeit their
disability grant. We would like to advise people about the importance of
submitting sputum specimens for follow up because this is the only way that the
nurses will be able to tell if the TB medication you are using is effective or
not. TB is not a disability and people who do not take their medication are
putting their families and other community members at risk.
There has been significant progress in the detection of TB cases in the Free
State after the implementation of the active case finding campaign in 2005. The
TB Control Programme at district and provincial level still has a problem in
ensuring that people with the confirmed TB disease adhere to treatment until
completion.
One of the achievements in 2006/07 is the training of managers and doctors
from both the public and private sectors in the control and management of
tuberculosis. This includes also the doctors and nurses from the mining
industry.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have to mention the important role of the DOT
supporters. This group of men and women:
* conduct continuous awareness within communities through door-to-door
campaigns
* supervise the TB patients when taking the medication; and most of all
* give support and encouragement to the TB patients until they complete the six
months' treatment period.
We would like to encourage people who have been diagnosed with TB to
complete their treatment. Failure to do this will result into a serious
condition known as Multi-drug Resistance TB (MDR-TB). The treatment of MDR-TB
takes longer, is more difficult and expensive.
As communities it is our responsibility to support those on treatment, to
advise those coughing longer than two weeks to go for sputum tests, and to
report to our healthcare workers anyone who refuses to go for tests or whom you
know is refusing to go for treatment. As individuals we are the only ones who
can stop all TB. TB is preventable and can be cured free of charge with the
resources offered by the government.
Programme director, in conclusion, elements of poverty such as poor living
conditions and malnutrition predisposes people to being infected with TB and
the rapid development of infection to disease as a result of depressed immune
system is a real reality. I would therefore like to encourage members of the
community and community structures to form strengthen support groups and
partnerships. Government cannot fight the battle alone; we need the help of
each individual to ensure a healthy and self-reliant Free State community.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
27 September 2007
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
