The plan "is to manage HIV-Aids and TB because the two have a close relationship"
DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will tomorrow unveil a new strategic plan to beat tuberculosis.
The plan "is to manage HIV-Aids and TB because the two have a close relationship".
"We will identify the high risk population, which includes miners. Gold mines are the most problematic," the head of South Africa's TB control programme, David Mametja said.
A national plan to have all miners tested and to ensure that those who are infected are treated is under way. Gold mines will be targeted.
And for the first time in the history of South Africa, World TB Day celebrations will be held at a gold mine in Carletonville, where Motsoaledi and other dignitaries will launch the 2012-16 implementation plans.
Mametja said the department was worried that the high prevalence of TB among miners held the nation back in the fight against the disease. There are about 600,000 miners in SA.
About 150,000 are contract workers without medical benefits.
The gold sector alone employs about 150,000 people. "There are 3,000 to 7,000 per 100,000 miners with TB in the country. But even the lowest estimate, 5%, is well above the figure of 1% for the general population," he said.
The aim is to have all South Africans screened and then tested at least once a year.
"But more frequently for high-risk groups, including mineworkers," Mametja said.
In addition the Department of Health will continue with interventions announced by Motsoaledi in March last year.
Motsoaledi also unveiled TB testing equipment - GeneXpert machines - which give same-day results.
Motsoaledi said at the time: "South Africa is still one of the countries in the world with the highest burden of TB. HIV has also complicated our TB situation given the high co-infection rate between HIV and TB."
Mametja said there were 77 GeneXpert machines in the country.
"The department spent about R42-million to get 30 machines. We got nine free. Others were donated.
"We will go on a drive to find people with TB. The notion is that if you have a family member with TB, chances are high that other family members will get infected. We will go to houses where we know there is or was a TB patient and test people," he said.
Mametja said they would also strengthen community health workers and home-based care accessibility.
About 5,000 miners and community members will undergo testing tomorrow.
New plan to tackle TB starts on mines
The plan "is to manage HIV-Aids and TB because the two have a close relationship"
DEPUTY President Kgalema Motlanthe and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will tomorrow unveil a new strategic plan to beat tuberculosis.
The plan "is to manage HIV-Aids and TB because the two have a close relationship".
"We will identify the high risk population, which includes miners. Gold mines are the most problematic," the head of South Africa's TB control programme, David Mametja said.
A national plan to have all miners tested and to ensure that those who are infected are treated is under way. Gold mines will be targeted.
And for the first time in the history of South Africa, World TB Day celebrations will be held at a gold mine in Carletonville, where Motsoaledi and other dignitaries will launch the 2012-16 implementation plans.
Mametja said the department was worried that the high prevalence of TB among miners held the nation back in the fight against the disease. There are about 600,000 miners in SA.
About 150,000 are contract workers without medical benefits.
The gold sector alone employs about 150,000 people. "There are 3,000 to 7,000 per 100,000 miners with TB in the country. But even the lowest estimate, 5%, is well above the figure of 1% for the general population," he said.
The aim is to have all South Africans screened and then tested at least once a year.
"But more frequently for high-risk groups, including mineworkers," Mametja said.
In addition the Department of Health will continue with interventions announced by Motsoaledi in March last year.
Motsoaledi also unveiled TB testing equipment - GeneXpert machines - which give same-day results.
Motsoaledi said at the time: "South Africa is still one of the countries in the world with the highest burden of TB. HIV has also complicated our TB situation given the high co-infection rate between HIV and TB."
Mametja said there were 77 GeneXpert machines in the country.
"The department spent about R42-million to get 30 machines. We got nine free. Others were donated.
"We will go on a drive to find people with TB. The notion is that if you have a family member with TB, chances are high that other family members will get infected. We will go to houses where we know there is or was a TB patient and test people," he said.
Mametja said they would also strengthen community health workers and home-based care accessibility.
About 5,000 miners and community members will undergo testing tomorrow.
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