Mpumalanga Department of Health celebrate World 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%
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 10631
in 2004 to 20021 in 2007. About 70% 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%
in 2004 to 56% in 2006. The TB defaulter
rate (people not completing their six months
treatment) remains high at 11% as well as
the death rate (people who die as result of
TB) at 10%.
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 don’t 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.
The province will commemorate the day at
an event to be held at;
Date
:
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Time : 09h00
Venue :
Naas stadium (Nkomazi Local Municipality).
MEC fish Mahlalela will deliver a keynote
address.
Media is invited.
NB: TB CAN BE CURED EVEN IF YOU ARE HIV
POSITIVE
“STOP TB … COMPLETE YOUR TREATMENT”
Issued by: Department of Health; Mpumalanga
Provincial Government.
For more information contact
Mpho Gabashane
082 802 4937
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