Men in Ugu District urged to take TB medication
Health representatives are concerned about statistics that reveal a high death rate among men.
The Ugu Health District Office held a TB indaba as a stakeholder engagement imbizo at KwaMaveshe community hall last Wednesday, to hear solutions on how to stop the spread of the disease, which is curable.
Ugu Health representatives are concerned about the statistics that reveal a high death rate among men due to TB related illnesses in Ugu, even though this disease is curable if patients take their medication.
District director Linda Dlamini said some 4000 TB patients were recorded in Ugu District over a year. Of those who died, most were men. Also, some defaulted on their treatment
.“This indaba aims to raise awareness about the negative impact of TB. It is curable and medications are available in our health institutions. Patients need to take their medications either for six, nine or 18 months and complete it as prescribed by their doctors,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini urged men to visit their local clinics and to do check-ups for TB symptoms such as constant coughing and sweating.
“Early detection helps because patients can take medications immediately. People should not die of a disease which is curable.”
Ugu District deputy mayor Dixie Nciki encouraged the community to take their medications. She added it’s an old disease that killed many people in the past, until Nelson Mandela spread the message that it’s curable and brought health services and medications to patients.
“Let’s thank our government for bringing health services closer to the people. We as Ugu District Municipality, overseeing all four local municipalities, are encouraging our people, and men in particular, to take TB medications regularly if diagnosed and prescribed to take it,” said Nciki.
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