Mpumalanga Government to host World TB Day Provincial Commemoration in Bushbuckridge
20 March 2024The Mpumalanga Provincial Government will this Sunday host a World TB Day Provincial Commemoration in Thulamahashe. Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane is expected to lead the commemoration in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Mpumalanga AIDS Council (MPAC).
Tuberculosis (TB) is an epidemic that contributes to the death of millions of people each year in the country and throughout the world. The commemoration, which is held every year on the 24th of March, is aimed at creating a public awareness about the disease. It further seeks to educate the public about the impact of TB, find all the missing TB patients, create awareness concerning efforts to prevent the spread and to launch the new post-exposure prophylaxis in pocket (PIP) for HIV, and STIs.
Research studies suggest that the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has recorded high cases of TB patients, and attribute fatalities to the late start of the TB treatment. Identified patients, die after admission in local hospitals.
TB indicators in the municipality depict a success rate of 72.2 percent instead of targeted 85 percent, while client lost to follow-up at 6.3 percent instead of 7.5 percent. The appalling TB client death rate is 8.5 percent instead of a targeted 7.5 percent.
Government TB programmes in the province include amongst others, the implementation of the national TB recovery plan and the national guidelines of TB infection, support for the implementation of the new TB screening and testing, as well as detecting the undiagnosed TB patients.
This year’s World TB Day will be commemorated under the theme: “Yes! We can end TB” and will commence with the MPAC sitting collaboratively chaired by the Premier and the leader of the society.
Members of the media are invited to the function, scheduled as follows:
Date: Sunday, 24 March 2024
Venue: Thulamahashe Stadium, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality
Time: 10:00
For media confirmations, kindly contact Ms Phumla Mokoena on (013) 766 2249/ 060 998 8781 or Mokoenapi@mpg.gov.za.
ENDS...
Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Provincial Government’s Spokesperson: George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za