Tuberculosis-related stigma still exists, says Durban-based NPO
The theme of World Tuberculosis Day this year is, ‘Yes, we can end TB!’
MICHAEL Wilson believes that South Africa has adequate tools to end the wide spread of tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
Wilson is a director of a Durban-based non-profit organisation (NPO), Advance Access and Delivery South Africa (AADSA), which is working in solidarity with partners around the world to overcome barriers to high-quality care and medicines, particularly for economically and socially marginalised groups.
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As the world observes World Tuberculosis Day today, on March 24, Wilson said, “The theme of World TB Day 2023 says, ‘Yes, we can end TB!’ I think this is a hopeful narrative, particularly for South Africa since the nation has one of the largest burdens of TB in the world. We have enough tools to end TB, and we need to consider that as we reflect on this important day.”
He mentioned that South Africa is among the countries that have the highest cases of TB in the world. He described chest x-rays as one of the effective tools to end the virus. “We have the necessary tools to end TB, we have to use a comprehensive approach, which includes searching, treating and preventing the virus. We need to do all these at the same time. South Africa has made great strides in the fight against TB, despite the setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic, but we still have a high number of undiagnosed cases of the virus,” said Willson.
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The director said anyone is at risk of getting a TB infection. “I know that many people think that to have TB, you need to have symptoms, but that is not the case because we pick up lots of TB infections through x-rays from patients who have no symptoms. People need to know that even if they don’t have symptoms, it is vital to go for testing,” he advised.
He admitted that the stigma associated with TB still exists. “I think TB-related stigma is still very real. We need to continue learn and apply lessons from HIV,” Wilson added.
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