Curable TB claims 1.5 million lives per year
The Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla together with MEC for Health and Wellness, Nkomo Nomantu and Sedibeng District Municipality Mayor Lerato Maloka led the World Stop TB Day observations at the Wilberforce Community College in Evaton.
EVATON. – As the country today (Sunday, 24 March) joins the global community in commemorating the World
Stop TB Day under the theme “Yes! You and I Can End TB,” the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has
called on communities to access free TB screening services, adhere to TB treatment and complete the
full course of treatment to reduce mortality and disease progression.
The call comes as the Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla accompanied by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Ms Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, representatives of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), World Health Organisation, Civils Society an other sectors of society, led the World Stop TB Day activities at Wilberforce Community College in Sedibeng.
Dr Phaahla who delivered a keynote address on behalf of the Deputy President and SANAC Chairperson Mr Paul Mashatile said that government and its partners have invested significantly towards ending TB which must see a reduction on infections, drug resistant TB, missing patients, and reduced TBrelated deaths.
“It has been stated by both scientists and clinicians repeatedly that TB remains one of the greatest public health threats in our country today.
For several years, it has remained the leading cause of death claiming around 1,5 million lives per year.
It also accounts for more than half of deaths among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at 53%, and yet, TB is
curable.
This means that the deaths are unnecessary and working together, we can certainly put an end
to them.
Working together we can rid the country of the scorn of struggling with the preventable and
curable, while other nations, with less resources and less complexities than ours are able to move fast
and further forward,” stated Dr Phaahla.
The GDoH has observed a worrisome 13.5% increase in TB incidence, rising from 27,924 cases in 2022 to 31,704 cases in 2023.
Between April and December 2023, a total of, 23 340 patients were diagnosed for Drug susceptible (DS) TB across the province and 20 957 (89.8%) were initiated on TB treatment.
Of concern is the fact that 2,383 patients were not initiated on TB treatment as part of the lost to follow-up
cohort, posing a risk of further transmission.
The reasons vary form untraceable contacts, wrong addresses and relocation amongst others.
Metropolitan areas bear the highest burden of TB in the province, with Johannesburg District contributing 38% of diagnosed TB cases, followed by Tshwane at 28%, Ekurhuleni at 25%, Sedibeng at 9%, and West Rand at 7%.
The reported high TB cases are based in Soweto and Hillbrow – Johannesburg District; Tembisa and Katlehong – Ekurhuleni District; Soshanguve – Tshwane District; Emfuleni – Sedibeng District and Krugersdorp and Carletonville – West Rand District.
The drivers of the TB epidemic observed in hotspot areas include overcrowding, low socio-economic status, under nutrition and HIV co-infection.
To address these challenges and improve TB outcomes, the GDoH has intensified outreach programme focusing on high-burden areas such as townships, informal settlements, and hostels (TISH) with the aim of providing essential services including extensive TB health education, mobile Chest X-ray screenings, patient tracing, and
facilitating access to care.
The Department is implementing TB screening at all health facilities for early diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation. In addition, it has Curable TB claims 1.5 million lives per year Tackling dental caries Become Part Of A Patient-Centred Clinician-Led, Stakeholder-Driven Healthcare Service 5 is also implementing the BPAL Drug Resistance TB treatment, which reduces the pill burden and minimises side effects.
This treatment protocol was launched in September 2023 by Dr. Phaahla to contribute to better DR-TB outcomes.
Currently, there are 73 decentralised sites across the province, enabling patients to receive treatment closer to their homes, reducing the need for admission to Sizwe Tropical Disease Hospital.
“It is crucial for communities, especially those with a positive TB contact, to undergo screening for early detection. While TB is a curable disease, early detection is important to prevent the spread of this airborne disease. I therefore want to urge our communities to visit their nearest facilities and mobile clinics for TB screening as soon as they experience symptoms to prevent complications and fatalities,” advised MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
She further said that was concerning that more women are presenting at health facilities to screen for TB as compared to males while it is common knowledge that men are most vulnerable to TB than women.
The GDoH has made provision for men friendly clinics to encourage more males to visit our facilities for comprehensive healthcare screening.
Minister Phaahla emphasised that the achievement of adequate financing of the TB response in the
National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023 to 2028 is a significant milestone
as it will ensure the acceleration of efforts towards the global 2030 target of ending TB, HIV and STIs
as public health threats.
Just over R4 billion was budgeted in 2024/2025 national budget, meeting
the projected needs for implementing the NSP.
TB is a communicable disease caused by bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily spreads
through the air when a TB infected person expel the bacteria into the air by coughing.
While the disease mainly affects the lungs, it can also impact other parts.
Adults, particularly men, are more susceptible to TB than females, with most of the common symptoms include persistent cough for more than 24 hours, weight loss, loss of appetite, night sweats, and lethargy.
