​2012-03-20: City creates TB awareness

WORLD TB Day is commemorated every year on 24 March and is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis (TB) remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the death of millions of people especially in developing countries.

In an effort to improve skills and knowledge about debilitating diseases like TB amongst the City of Johannesburg communities, the City of Johannesburg Health and Social Development Department has embarked on an extensive health awareness drive.

As a build-up towards the World TB Day, 24 March 2012, the city has been conducting TB Imbizo’s,  and door-to-door TB awareness campaign in all regions during which community leaders are engaged in the challenges faced by the TB epidemic. The schedule for the TB Imbizo’s are listed in the table below:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious problem all over the world. TB is an infectious disease; it can be passed on from one person to another. TB is spread through the air when someone who has TB cough, spits or sneezes.

Last year the Minister of Health announced a new approach to deal decisively with the TB epidemic in South Africa. The approach included (a) intensified case finding based on case finding at household level using contact tracing teams, (b) unveiling and rolling out the GeneXpert diagnostic laboratory tests to diagnose susceptible and drug-resistant TB, (c) opening 9 new Multi Drug Resistant(MDR) TB in-patient facilities.

In Johannesburg intensified case finding efforts included following-up all drug resistant and susceptible patients and their contacts. All contacts were screened for TB and those less than 5 years and HIV positive contacts that were not infected with TB were provided with TB preventative therapy, (also known as Isoniazid (INH) preventative therapy), for a period of 6 months. The therapy prevents development of TB disease.

The GeneXpert diagnostic laboratory test was implemented at National Health laboratories Services (NHLS) at Chris Hani Baragwanath, and Edenvale Hospitals and lately at Helen Joseph NHLS. The greatest advantage of the new test is that it diagnoses Drug Resistant TB at the onset of treatment. During 2011 there were 635 Drug Resistant TB patients diagnosed by the NHLS in Johannesburg. Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extremely Drug Resistant (XDR) TB patients are treated at Sizwe Hospital, in Sandringham, Johannesburg.

During 2011, there were 21, 399 new cases of Tuberculosis diagnosed in Johannesburg. Patients that are placed on treatment are closely monitored during their treatment. The City currently boasts with a New Smear Positive Cure Rate and Treatment Success Rate of all TB patients of 81%. The Gauteng Health Department acknowledged the steady increase in cure rate achieved by the City by awarding the “Best Performing District” trophy to the City in November 2011. The new smear positive cure rate has improved from 68% in 2005 to 81% in 2010.

TB testing and treatment is free at all government clinics. Persons who have been coughing for more than two weeks and is suffering from a loss of weight and night sweats should consider having a free TB test done.

TB is totally curable.  Medication is given which must be taken every day of a week, for a period of six to eight months. It is essential for persons to complete a full course of TB treatment to be cured.

 Many patients move to other areas before their cure can be documented. It is best for a TB patient to complete a full course of treatment at one health facility, to ensure that staff can adequately monitor the patient and detect any resistant strains of TB (Multi Drug Resistant TB) developing.

During the commemoration of World TB Day the plea to all is to join the fight against TB. Here are some suggestions as to what can be done:

Practice cough hygiene, place a tissue like paper in front of your mouth when coughing or sneezing or else cough or sneeze into your sleeve. This will not only contain the spread of TB but also common colds and flu.
Avoid overcrowding and always open windows where-ever you are, in winter and summer. TB germs get diluted in fresh air.
Test for TB if you are coughing for more than two weeks or show symptoms of TB infection such as loss of weight and night sweats. The test is free and early diagnosis can improve your chances of getting cured.
Also test for HIV. HIV positive persons get TB more easily because of their lowered resistance to disease. TB preventative medication is available at all health facilities in the City for persons living with HIV who has not contracted TB.  
For more information contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Specialist
Public Liaison Department
City of Johannesburg                        
Telephone: (011) 407 – 6477   
Cell: 083 408 7787