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HIV, AIDS, TB Decline in North West
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
15 February 2008
Posted to the web 15 February 2008
Gabi Khumalo
North West
The North West Province has seen a decline in number of people infected by Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV and AIDS.
During her State of the Province Address on Friday, North West Premier Edna Molewa said the province have made great strides during this financial year, with regards to the preservation of the health of its people.
Due to awareness programmes, said the premier, the TB cure rate has now increased to a remarkable 72 percent and evidence indicates a decline in the percentages of life threatening diseases such as HIV and AIDS as well as TB.
"The TB programme has been intensified to increase coverage by 25 percent, extending to include schools and social mobilization is being done through the Aventis door-to-door campaigns and music festivals," said Premier Molewa.
The premier said due to the implementation of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS plan taking place in phases in all the hospitals, a total of 11 437 patients are on Anti-Retroviral treatment.
Among the province achievements Ms Molewa mentioned included the uptake of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), which increased from 84 percent to 91 percent.
The province managed to establish 715 operational VCT sites, surpassing the target of 665.
This is a notable achievement showing that attitudes toward VCT are changing, the premier noted.
With regards to training, Ms Molewa said 165 peer educators have been trained to provide HIV and AIDS education at schools, trained 130 Further Education and Training educators, while a further 2 350 young educators benefited from nursing training including university degrees.
Premier Molewa said the province have succeeded in extending care to ailing individuals in the province, while still widening the reach through the increase of Home Based Care organisations in the province.
"During the year 2007, we also provided effective Home Based Care to a record 385 000 beneficiaries.
"The number of Home Based Care organisations has subsequently increased to 414 and attached to these organisations are 4960 caregivers, this is a vast increase from what we had in 2004" said Premier Molewa.
During the Social Development Cluster briefing on Thursday, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said Department of Health hopes to reduce the number of TB patients who default on their treatment, from 10 percent to 7 percent this year.
Regarding implementing the Apex Priorities, during the State of the Nation Address last week, President Thabo Mbeki said government will speed up its advance towards the achievement of the goal of health for all.
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In 2007, the national Health Department increased the budget allocated for Non Governmental Organisations working in the field of HIV, AIDS and TB by R6 million.
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