New methods hope to eliminate TB
TEMBISA – New methods to eliminate TB, one of the leading killer diseases worldwide. is introduced at a press conference.
The Aurum Institute alongside the National Department of Health and National TB programme held a tuberculosis awareness meeting at Tembisa Hospital on 26 March to introduce renewed measures of tackling TB. The theme of the event was ‘Seizing the moment to eliminate TB in South Africa’.
The South African Launch of the Lancet Commission Report on TB was attended by the Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Professor Gavin Churchyard (CEO of the Aurum Institute) who led the investigation and Dr Yogan Pillay (deputy director general) at the South African National Department of Health.
The aim of the event was to let the public know that the South African National Health Department alongside partnering organisations such as The Aurum Institute and Lancet have come up with new methods to eliminate TB in the community since it is known as one of the leading killer diseases worldwide.
Churchyard introduced a three months once-a-week dosage of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP), which is a short-course TB preventive therapy regimen of the two TB drugs combined to prevent TB in HIV positive patients, as well as bedaquiline, served for drug-resistant TB in patients.
Pillay reported that the department is still working on procurement issues as well as a price that they are willing to pay for the medication. Adding that when these issues are finalised a media statement will be released.
Pillay stated that new medication for drug-resistant TB (bedaquiline), is already available throughout the country. “In fact, 70 per cent of all patients in the world being treated with this medication are in South Africa.”
With TB being caused by many factors and is a challenge to prevent, Motsoaledi said that the health department has proposed to President Cyril Ramaphosa that all other ministerial departments take part in ending this horrific disease.
He gave the example of how people who live in informal settlements are at high risk because their houses are not well ventilated.
Therefore, he feels that all the departments such as environmental health, mining and other departments need to come together and take part in this initiative.
Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/video_of_the_day/joburgtoday-800-new-tb-infections-recorded-sa-day/
