BuaNews (Tshwane)
Gabi Khumalo
25 July 2008
Bloemfontein — Informative posters and pamphlets are to be distributed in taverns in informal settlements in the Free State to increase the understanding of Tuberculosis (TB).
This was one of the recommendations that were made at a TB workshop with tavern owners which was held recently at the Bram Fischer Building in Bloemfontein.
The workshop was aimed at getting business owners to contribute towards the control of TB and highlight the effect which TB defaulters have on the general society including their immediate families, friends and other regular customers at taverns.
Organised by the Free State Department of Health, the theme of the workshop was "Preventing the spread of TB at places of social gatherings".
Motheo District Health Councillor, Valephi Rhani said most TB defaulters were sometimes found at taverns because they felt this was the only place they go to deal with their dilemma and "drown their sorrows".
He warned that this conduct posed many dangers to those people who frequented taverns, tavern owners and society at large.
"Some of the TB patients hide from their treatment supporters at taverns as a result they do not take the medication.
"When this happens, they remain highly infectious and put the health of those around them at the risk of getting infected with TB," Mr Rhani said, adding that TB was curable even when contracted by HIV positive people and that medication was free of charge at all government health facilities throughout the country.
However, he warned that if not treated properly, the disease was fatal.
"The bad news is that if the medication is not taken regularly, the patient remains infectious and will not be cured and will infect other people," he said.
Another awareness strategy which was recommended at the workshop included the distribution of key TB messages to the DJs, who will share them to their audience during their sessions and stage dramas.
Similar workshops are to be extended to taxi drivers, restaurant owners and other places where many people meet.
Early this month, during the country's first TB Conference held in KwaZulu-Natal, MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize said that mobilising the communities into action is the greatest weapon they have in the fight to eliminate TB.
Dr Mkhize emphasised that the TB campaign has to be conducted at the grassroots levels and to ensure that messages to ordinary community members are consistent and not confusing.
"We should act as comrades-in-arms against a ruthless and formidable enemy, this is the time for unity-in-action between government and communities, the message is that TB can be prevented and its complications defeated.
"This is the message that must be spread throughout the country including government quarters, health institutions, villages and suburbs, informal settlements, taxi ranks and railway stations
"It is a message that all leaders must help to spread and should not only be left to nurses and doctors to transmit," said Dr Mkhize at the time.
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