By: Lunga Memela (HST Communications Engagement Lead)
This World TB Day ‒ 24 March 2023 – Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), led the day's official commemoration in North West Province. The day also marked the launch of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs for 2023-2028 that serves as a blueprint and roadmap to guide and inform the country's response to its HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics.
HST's flagship TB and HIV programme, the SA SURE PRO project, was pleased to play its part in supporting a number of KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (KZN DoH) activities building up to World TB Day and subsequent events thereafter. The activities took place in all PEPFAR-supported districts: eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, uThukela and Zululand.
One such an event was the recent World TB Day event hosted by uMgungundlovu Health District's uMshwathi Local Municipality, where teams from District Support Partners (DSPs) such as the Health Systems Trust were present to support the event, providing free health screening for TB, HIV and other illnesses to members of the community.
Attended by HST's uMgungundlovu SA SURE PRO Project Manager, Nomvula Radebe, together with the District Co-ordinator, Sello Moremi, the commemoration sensitised attendees to South Africa's World TB Day theme: "Yes! You and I Can End TB" – a statement of intent designed to encourage individuals to take charge of their health in line with the National Department of Health's (NDoH) Cheka Impilo wellness campaign objectives, as well as the country's endeavours towards finding people with undiagnosed TB.
This is also in line with the global theme – "Yes! We can end TB!" – which conveys a message of hope that we can turn the tide against the TB epidemic through high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of new World Health Organization recommendations, and adoption of innovations, accelerated action and multisectoral collaboration.
The SA SURE PRO project works to facilitate improved access to TB prevention therapies and treatment options through support to facility- and community-based modalities of care, in line with South Africa's National TB Recovery Plan.
"TB is curable!" That was one of the key messages delivered by all the speakers at the event. Community members were encouraged to not only to be screened for TB, but also to talk openly about the disease so that no stigma is attached to it. Similarly, TB and HIV co-infection were discussed at length. Gone should be the days when diagnosable illnesses are blamed on misnomers such as witchcraft. Community members were encouraged to take advantage of TB medication being made readily available to them by the NDoH. They were urged to not share their medication with their loved ones but instead to complete their treatment regimen as specified by healthcare practitioners.
Because the tuberculosis bacterium is airborne, one of the challenges faced by the DoH and its support partners in curbing the spread of TB within the uMshwathi Sub-district is that many community members reside in congested informal settlements, where poverty is rife, there is poor nutrition, water, sanitation and ventilation, and numerous residents are migrant labourers. There is constant concern that, in these conditions, community members may develop multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
According to the National Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs and TB 2012-2016, "It is estimated that about 80% of the population of South Africa is infected with TB bacteria, the vast majority of whom have latent TB rather than active TB disease. The highest prevalence of latent TB, estimated at 88% has been found among people in the age group 30-39 years old living in townships and informal settlements."
On the morning of the event, HST SA SURE PRO staff collaborated with other DSPs to bring hope to the community through a special visit to the not-yet-government-funded local Khanyisa Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre, where minor ailments and children's Road to Health Cards were assessed, and mothers were screened for TB and other symptoms. Pictured above at the ECD Centre are: HST Community Co-ordinator, Hlengiwe Gcaba; Principal Nompumelelo Ngcobo; THINK Social Worker, Busisiwe Mavuso; Civil Society Representative, Queen Mzilikazo; and HST Nurse Clinician, Zinhle Madonda.
There are challenges to be addressed, such as mothers misusing their children's government grant money for alcohol. "Such cases create major challenges in the health system," reported THINK Social Worker, Busisiwe Mavuso. Principal Ngcobo agreed that some mothers simply leave their children at the ECD Centre and do not worry further about their educational development, health and wellbeing.
HST Community Co-ordinator, Hlengiwe Gcaba holds a thumbs-up with mother and daughter, Nokchazile and Zanele Mpekwa, after screening at the ECD Centre.
The day's proceedings concluded with the reciting and signing of an important pledge by officials to make uMshwathi Local Municipality a TB-free community.
Seen at HST's mobile unit at the event: HST Nurse Clinician, Zinhle Madonda, assesses the clinic card of a patient with high blood pressure, while Nurse Clinician Hhloniphile Phakathi tests a patient's blood pressure amid other health education sessions held during the event.
While this event marked World TB Day, HST teams work throughout the year to reduce TB incidence through active screening in facilities and communities. Recently the HST and District DoH joined forces in a campaign to screen factory workers at companies that have no capacity to screen and test their staff members for TB. SA SURE PRO has also run a campaign with the schools-based teams to educate children on TB, its symptoms, treatment and effects. During lead-up and post-TB Day events, 1 000 rulers branded with the message, We can beat TB together, about TB prevention, treatment and cure were issued to students.