BuaNews (Tshwane)
Edwin Tshivhidzo
6 October 2008
Welkom — Great strides have been made in the reduction of Tuberculosis (TB) in the Free State, says provincial Health MEC Sakhiwo Belot.
The province has a 68 percent cure rate and a defaulter rate of 5 percent which is the lowest in the country.
According to the department, 14 patients have diagnosed with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) since 2006, with six patients still on treatment. Six patients died, one was transferred to KwaZulu-Natal and one absconded treatment which was later traced in Lesotho.
Speaking at the fourth Stop TB Indaba held recently, the MEC admitted that although much has been done to reduce TB, challenges still remained.
These challenges can not be addressed by the department alone, said Mr Belot, adding that they hoped to overcome them through the contribution by other stakeholders.
These include decision and policy makers, opinion leaders, non-governmental organisations such as professional and religious groups, the media, the private sector, communities and individuals.
Mr Belot said TB was ravaging the country and affecting the lives of community members.
"Youth is especially at risk as it is our young economically active group which is resulting in a decrease in the outputs of the country's labour force and consequently reducing the gross domestic product," MEC Belot said.
He said TB also affects individuals through the stigma borne from ignorance and lack of information about the disease.
He emphasised the need for more communication about TB as a means of educating members of society.
The MEC said there should be more social mobilisation as it generates dialogue, negotiation and consensus, engaging a range of players in interrelated and complementary efforts and takes into account the needs of people.
"Social mobilisation, integrated with other communication approaches has been a key feature in numerous communication efforts worldwide," he said.
Social mobilisation, the MEC said, recognises that sustainable social and behavioural change requires many levels of involvement, adding that isolated efforts cannot have the same effect as collective ones.
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