Media Watch
Tag:
Step forward as new TB unit is unveiled
The fight against tuberculosis in the province has been taken a step forward with the opening of a newly refurbished tuberculosis unit by acting premier Griezelda Cjiekella, at West End Hospital, in Kimberley.IN THE NEWS: Sisters probe TB scourge in prison
Two siblings want answers after their brother went to jail healthy but came out 'deadly sick'.
Josephine and Margaret Leping felt elated when they they heard that their brother, Bobby, would be released from prison in January. But their elation quickly turned to desperation as they entered the prison compound to pick him up.
Josephine said: "He passed out on a patch of grass in front of Pretoria Local Prison. He was thin, his skin was yellow and he had a rash all over his face.
IN THE NEWS: Gerry Elsdon walks the TB talk
The Northern Cape has the third highest rate of TB in the country with six out of 10 people reported to be "victims of the pandemic."
That was the startling revelation by the province's MEC for health Mxolisi Sokatsha, at the Hit the Road and Kick TB walk for humanity campaign in Kimberley yesterday.
TB survivor and global ambassador for the disease, Gerry Elsdon, led the march, making it the eighth province to host the initiative so far.
IN THE NEWS: TB, HIV patients resume treatment at Du Noon clinic
Du Noon resident John Louw, 36, who suffers from tuberculosis, is one of hundreds of patients who have not been able to take his medication for three weeks, following the complete closure of the Du Noon clinic on March 15.IN THE NEWS: Step it up for TB Day
The Foot Print Hospice from Orlando East held its own TB Day last week. Partnered by the Orlando police, staff from the hospice marched through the streets of Orlando East. With them were workers from Hlokomela - a home based care centre from the neighbourhood.IN THE NEWS: Medics suffer high exposure to TB
Bart Willems was not a candidate for tuberculosis. He simply did not fit the profile. For a start, he was exceptionally fit. He cycled to work, surfed every day and swam competitively. He followed an extremely healthy lifestyle and considered his immune system to be strong.
But one day, while Willems was in his early 20s and completing his community service at Cecelia Makiwane and Frere Hospitals in the Eastern Cape, he suffered sudden chest pains. A senior doctor examined him, but said he "could not find anything wrong".
IN THE NEWS: Government committed to eradicating TB, says Nehawu
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on Saturday reaffirmed government's commitment to achieving "zero deaths from HIV and Tb in 20 years".
Speaking on the World TB Day, Motlanthe said the national strategic plan for HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections seeks to achieve "zero new HIV and Tb infections, zero new infections due to HIV transmission from mother to child and zero preventable deaths from HIV and TB".
