TB is a growing problem

DRUG resistant tuberculosis is a growing concern for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which issued a joint statement earlier this year, calling for additional funding to combat the deadly infectious disease.

“We are treading water at a time when we desperately need to scale up our response to multi-drug resistant TB,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO’s director-general, in a press release. WHO estimates that at least 500 000 children contract TB each year and that 70 000 die from the disease, largely in Asia and Africa.

According to an article on Globalpost, multi-drug resistant TB is resistant to at least the two leading anti-TB drugs. But for many young children around the world, even drug-susceptible tuberculosis remains an under diagnosed and under treated disease.

The South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA) is a dynamic community based voluntary association committed to serving communities and TB patients by working with the Department of Health, Ziphakamise, South Coast Hospice, Red Cross and Rotary to provide preventative, curative and related services in the fight against the ever-increasing scourge of TB.

SANTA’s South Coast branch held its 53rd annual general meeting last Thursday at which its chairman, Roland Vancoillie, highlighted the work done by the branch over the past year.

Mr Vancoillie said the branch provided groceries for soup kitchens at nine local clinics and supported six community-based soup kitchens, equating to about 5 000 meals per week.

“We also distribute food parcels to the value of more than R20 000 per month to patients who have no income, thus enabling them to take their TB medication,” he said. He added that all the soup kitchens have established food gardens which supply them with vegetables.

SANTA supplies seedlings to TB patients, those taking antiretroviral drugs and to the community. It also provides assistance with the planting and watering of the gardens. Seedlings are also supplied to community gardens at KwaNyuswa and Ashabeni. SANTA’s TB liaison officer, Thembeka Sibisi, trained 23 Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) supporters this year.

Looking ahead, SANTA has decided to establish branches in Gamalakhe, Harding and St Faiths. “We are aiming to have at least 30 members per branch,” said Mr Vancoillie. “As members of SANTA’s branch committee, we have a tremendous responsibility to play our part in assisting those who look after the patients while, at the same time, being good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by the general public.”

Anyone who would like to join SANTA or attend its meetings can contact Nduduzo Chala at 039 6821160.