Launch of TB Prevention Campaign with Amakhosi

Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will on Friday, 15 March 2019 launch the TB Prevention Campaign with Amakhosi and TB Ambassadors at the Qadi Traditional Council in Inanda, eThekwini Municipality.

The campaign seeks to mobilise Amakhosi and TB Ambassadors to join the national effort of rapidly Finding the Missing TB Patients and urgently link them to treatment and care.

This initiative is also in line with a commitment made by Heads of State and Government in the first ever High Level Meeting on TB that took place in September 2018 at the United Nations in New York, USA. In that meeting, the Heads of State and Government took a decision that countries must collectively trace 4 million people infected with TB but not on treatment.

Each country has its share of the missing 4 million and South Africa’s share is 160 000. 

In South Africa, approximately 15-20% of all TB reported cases are children, and it is among the top five underlying causes of death in children under 5 years of age. KwaZulu-Natal has the greatest TB and HIV burden in the country.

As a response, South Africa has decided to trace and find at least 80 000 by December 2020 as part of its national efforts. 

The launch in KwaZulu-Natal will be a build-up to the national World TB Day commemoration, which will be held during a church service on Sunday, 24 March in the Western Cape, and the main commemoration on 28 March in the Eastern Cape.

The World TB Day will this year be commemorated under the theme:  IT’S TIME! For Religious Leaders, Parliamentarians and Legislators to Lead the Fight to End TB in South Africa.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Willies Mchunu, KZN MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, eThekwini Mayor, Cllr Zandile Gumede, Amakhosi and TB Ambassadors to visit households with TB patients and encourage family members to be screened and tested for TB.

All family members confirmed with TB will be urgently initiated on treatment in health facilities closest to them. This will be followed by the main community event where the Provincial Turnaround Plan will be tabled and the Deputy President will formally launch the TB Prevention Campaign.

Media is invited to cover the event as follows:

Part One: Household Visits

Venue: Amatikwe Clinic, Inanda
Time: 09h00

Part Two: Main Event
  
Venue: J. L. Dube Stadium, Inanda
Time: 11h00


Media enquiries: Thami Ngwenya, Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 082 428 4263 or thami@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria