The Western Cape Government Health department has expressed their appreciation for the new tuberculosis (TB) equipment which was donated to the Tygerberg Hospital by the Rotary Club of Blouberg recently.

With a high rate of TB and other respiratory health issues in the province, this Olympus Paediatric Ultrasound Bronchoscope System is expected to boast less invasive treatment for children. It may also support the treatment of cancer in adults.

Tygerberg Hospital is the first facility in Africa to have received this R3 million equipment, of which R200 000 was contributed by the Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust.

According to Stellenbosch University, TB remains the leading cause of death in South Africa, with more than eight-hundred new TB infections every day. The new equipment is expected to improve the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in small children.

Also, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB on the increase, this is important to get samples for diagnosis, to start the correct treatment early. This equipment will also give the hospital the option to do world leading pediatric TB and pulmonology research.

Photo caption: Prof Pierre Goussard and Helene Visser of the Rotary Club of Blouberg with the Bronchoscope System.