Testing and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV are available for free at all City of Johannesburg clinics during and beyond the completion of the awareness campaign in April, MMC for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse said.
“The City of Johannesburg has embarked on a wide-ranging campaign to create awareness of TB and HIV/Aids by screening patients for free at all the City’s clinics while conducting community outreach initiatives,” the MMC said.
This initiative will continue until the end of April with a commemoration of the annual World TB Day on 24 April.
Phalatse said Joburgers must be aware of the fact that TB could be completely cured if patients followed the treatment regimen for the prescribed period, depending on the type of infection.
“We urge communities to encourage families and friends to visit clinics if they notice the tell-tale TB symptoms,” she said.
“It is equally important to provide ongoing support to TB patients and to assist them and ensure that they continue with the treatment until they are cured.”
An important part of this year’s outreach will be to find the so-called ‘missing’ patients who were diagnosed but did not start or continue their treatment programme.
“Our health promoters will provide special attention to residents living in hostels and informal settlements, as well as to miners, the elderly, children, immune-compromised individuals and health care workers. These population groups are often the most affected and yet the most neglected in terms of screening and treatment,” the MMC said.
Phalatse added that the number of TB cases in Joburg had been steadily declining.
Take note of the following TB symptoms:
Adults:
- A cough for two weeks or more or of any duration if HIV positive
- A fever for more than two weeks
- Unexplained weight loss of more than 1.5kg in a month
- Drenching night sweats.
Children:
- A cough, for two weeks or more, which does not improve with treatment
- A persistent fever for more than two weeks
- Documented weight loss or failure to thrive
- Fatigue (always tired).
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