Address by the Mr Seaparo Sekoati MEC for Health and Social Development in Limpopo Province on the Occasion of the World TB Day

Venue: Mafefe, Capricorn District
Date: 24 March 2007

Programme Director
Kgosi Mafefe
Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality
Mayor of Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality
Councilors
Ladies and Gentlemen

World TB Day is celebrated throughout the world. TB was declared a global emergency in 1993 and South Africa has joined the rest of the world in celebrating this day. TB was declared a national emergency and a priority disease in South Africa in 1996. Our province first celebrated World TB Day in 1998 in Kgapane Stadium and ever since we did not missed even a single celebration.

The purpose of celebrating this day is to make the people of our province aware of the seriousness of TB. We also want to work in partnership with other stakeholders such as Traditional Leaders, Councilors, Traditional Healers, Religious Leaders, business sector and other formations in our communities.

Our theme this year is “TB ANYWHERE IS TB EVERYWHERE”. This theme is intended to make people to take TB serious. By now all of us should know that TB is a decease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs or any other part of the body such as kidneys, spine and brain. If not treated, it can be fatal. TB spread through the air from one person to another through coughing.

TB is one of the major health challenges facing our province. This disease continues to spread because of the difficult social conditions under which our people live. These poverty-related challenges, which government is determined to address, include poor nutrition and inadequate housing.

Signs and symptoms of TB are:

• Coughing for more than 2 weeks
• Coughing up sputum and later blood
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pains
• Loss of weight
• Feeling of tiredness or weakness of the whole body
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath

Let us ensure that TB cases are detected and diagnosed as early as possible and ensure treatment success. Our main challenge still remains the inability of patients to complete treatment, leading to the development of drug resistant strains of TB - which is more challenging and expensive to treat.

TB and HIV are related because they both destroy the immune system. But not all HIV positive people have TB and not all people with TB are HIV positive.

As government we are committed and as a result we have given TB special attention in the province by making it a directorate and providing it with the necessary resources and support. We have increased Social mobilization – awareness campaigns, door-to-door campaigns, make materials available to communities. We provide free TB treatment at all government institutions. We have opened MDR TB hospital in the province. We are able to detect and management of XDR TB patients. We are training health care workers of all categories, that is, doctors, nurses at all levels of care in hospitals, Health centres and clinics. We have ensured that TB is treated as a crisis.

With all these effort by government, some of the challenges are:

• Poor compliance to treatment leading to high defaulter rates
• High TB/HIV co - infection rates
• Poor DOT strategy implementation
• High mobility of patients with poor referral system so patients get lost from the system.
• Low knowledge of TB and importance of completing treatment
• High MDR TB prevalence rate
• Sustainability of DOT Supporters

Let us salute our volunteers for the wonderful work they are doing. Amongst these giants we have Mme Agnes Mahlodi Malesa a committed volunteer for 17 years. To all the DOT supporters we say thank you for the support you have been providing for all these years. This kind of partnership is critical and we should not loose focus of the importance of our work. Pele ka di DOT supporters Pele! Let us leave this place with the following message:

• All South Africans must join hands in the fight against TB – the importance of partnerships cannot be overemphasized.
• TB can be cured
• TB is not infectious once treatment has been started and taken correctly.
• TB testing and treatment is available free of charge at all Health care facilities.
• Communities need to be involved in the fight against TB.
• Communities need to be protected from the threat of MDR TB and XDR TB.

Wherever we are, let us remember that:

• Once you have started TB treatment it is essential to complete your treatment. This should take about 6 months.
• If you have a cough for more than 2 weeks and / or persistent night sweats you should go to your nearest clinic for a check-up, as you could have TB.
• TB can be cured
• If you know someone with TB your support is needed to help them complete their course of treatment
• If you are HIV positive you need to be aware that you are at an increased risk of TB. If you have a cough or are not feeling well for a while then make sure your doctor or nurse checks you for TB.

I thank you all.

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