TB day commemorated

Recently TB Day was commemorated at the Hlalanikahle Community Hall.

The awareness campaign was held at the Hlalanikahle Community Centre on Friday, March 18. Officials from the office of the Nkangala district, as well as the local municipality and other stakeholders were involved in the campaign.

According to a statement from Santa HIV/Aids Mpumalanga their main objective is to take care of TB/HIV and Aids patients and their immediate families. They are involved with running awareness campaigners in the community, to make the community aware of about these killer diseases. “March is TB month, Santa Mpumalanga organised a TB day to be hosted by our branch, Santa Bhekimpilo in Hlalanikahle. The purpose of the campaign was to educate, inform and create awareness about TB in the community,” reads a statement from the organisation.

The officials started the campaign with home visits whereby blankets were presented to patients in an effort to bring hope to them. Five patients were visited by the officials and some of them are staying in very bad conditions.

Ms Magotso Magubane from the civil society said she was diagnosed with HIV and contracted TB and had a low CD4 Count. She emphasised that TB was a curable disease but in most cases HIV and TB ‘go together’ as one becomes vulnerable after contracting either of the two. She said she was still young at age 28, but now she is 45 and is going very strong.

“HIV is a not a death sentence as you can see, we need not stigmatise people who are HIV. Take your medication as required and you will live a healthy life. Take care of your body and know your status. Those who are negative must do the right thing and stay negative. Those who are positive must take their medications as HIV is like any chronic disease. Those who have contracted TB have only six months to take their medications and after that they are healed,” stated Ms Magubane.

Another TB survivor Ms Maria Masango said she was admitted at Santo Hospital after she was encouraged by family members. She explained that she follows treatment as she was told and she is now TB free and thanks health workers for their support.

Santa provincial chairperson Mr Themba Marabe talked about the importance of celebrating the world TB day. He told the people that stakeholders need to support each other as was the case at the event. He also explained that knowledge was important in their campaign to stop the spreading of the disease.

“It is important to teach about TB and we would like to thank our care givers and volunteers for their support and care to our patients. They do door to door visits and we need all to join hands to stop TB. Early treatment is very important, now is the time to be screened, Mayihlome izazi,” concluded Mr Marabe.

Officials from the department of Health, love Life and other departments attended the event.