Moving forward

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 11:47

Review hails South Africa’s TB control programme South Africa’s management of tuberculosis has improved significantly compared to what it was in 2005. This is a finding by a joint review of the TB programme by the World Health Organization (WHO), development partners and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Specifically, the TB defaulter rate has declined and cure rate has increased. This emerged during a meeting between the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and a delegation of the Geneva-based Stop TB Partnership including representatives from WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Foundation For Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and other stakeholders in Pretoria in July. The Joint TB Review looked at, among others, Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) – the gold standard recommended globally for treating TB patients; strengthening of the health system; TB/HIV co-infection; drug-resistant TB (MDR and XDR); and public private partnerships and advocacy, communication and social mobilisation. The Review included observations of provision of care in clinics and hospitals, and interviews with TB services managers and health workers. Its findings included: • There were major improvements on quality and access to TB services (TB diagnosis and treatment available in all health facilities), resulting in increased case detection and treatment success; • Human resources were found to be sufficient in some provinces, but insufficient in others and very often not adequately trained in TB control; • Drugs were generally available and in sufficient quantities; and • The review has recommended that infection control measures should be improved, as these were found to be weak. The Review further found that HIV testing for TB patients had increased beyond 90% in many of the visited facilities. It has, however, called for the management of TB/HIV co-infected patients at the same facilities with effective infection control measures. It has also recommended that NGOs working on HIV should also work on TB. The Review underscored some serious challenges: despite progress made, 1% of the general population is infected with TB every year, very much driven by the HIV pandemic. Infection control should be strengthened through the formation of national and provincial infection committees and assigning this responsibility to dedicated focal persons. Concluding the Review report, Dr Leopold Blanc of the WHO Stop TB Partnership, speaking on behalf of the Review Team, commended South Africa’s progress around TB control, but also raised a number of concerns. “Despite the areas of concern that are still there, we are encouraged by the progress made (by South Africa) in this regard. “It is, however, vitally important that you look more closely in the area of aggressively addressing TB/HIV co-infection and TB within HIV programmes and infection control,” he said. Irene Koek, chair of the Stop TB Partnership Board, also commended South Africa on tremendous progress in the national TB programme and the government’s commitment to addressing serious challenges around TB and HIV. Commenting on the review findings, Motsoaledi expressed his confidence in the ability of the country’s health system to continue to respond to the TB pandemic even in the context of HIV and AIDS. “We are encouraged by the findings of the Review. Moving forward, we have to strengthen the areas that the Review draws our attention to. We are grateful to the WHO and other partners for working with us in conducting this Review,” he said. Issued by the Department of Health and WHO Stop TB For more information, contact Fidel Hadebe on (012) 312 0663 or 079 517 3333; or Maria Djordjevic via e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 082 334 6192

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 September 2009 11:49