The Western Cape Government and non-profit organisation, TB HIV Care, continue their fight against Tuberculosis (TB), guided by this year’s theme for World TB Day: “Yes, we can beat TB”.
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TB has been a leading cause of death in the Western Cape for over a decade. Just recently, (between 2023 and 2024) 311 people lost their lives to TB-related complications. The province’s Health and Wellness has however, with the implementation of Targeted Universal Testing for TB (TUTT) last year, started making significant strides in the fight against the disease.
It says it is testing individuals who have been in close contact with a diagnosed TB patient, regardless of their symptoms. This approach is said to enable early diagnosis and treatment.
MEC for the department, Nomafrench Mbombo, further emphasized that tackling TB needs a community-centered approach.
“While TB is a health-related issue, it is also a socio-economic problem that needs a multipronged approach for medical interventions which is why our responsibility as the Department of Health and Wellness is to ensure TB screening and treatment is accessible to communities.”
She advised that being aware of the symptoms of the disease is important, so that patients can get treatment as early as possible and prevent the spread thereof.
The most common symptoms of TB include:
- A persistent or unexplained cough.
- Bloody sputum or phlegm.
- Pain in your chest when coughing or breathing.
- Weight loss and/or loss of appetite. Or inadequate growth in children (not gaining weight as expected).
- Malaise or fever.
- Sweating profusely at night.
World TB Day: National Focus
South Africa has one of the highest burdens of TB globally, with an estimated 280,000 new cases in 2022 and approximately 54,000 deaths. World TB Day, observed on March 24 every year, serves as an occasion to raise awareness about the impact of the disease and advocate for increased efforts to eradicate it.
According to TB HIV Care’s CEO, Harry Hausler, the theme for this year’s World TB Day reflects the ongoing work to improve access to TB services, and highlights the need for collective action and global cooperation to eliminate TB by 2030.
Hausler stressed the importance of TUTT in expanding testing efforts and finding and supporting more TB cases. Additionally, advocating for the expansion and adoption of TB preventive therapy (TPT) for close household contacts and people living with HIV is crucial.
“This World TB Day, everyone should be learning about – and talking about TUTT and TPT. Together, we can end TB in our lifetime, and help ensure a healthier future for all.”
