SOUTH Africa could provide a huge relief in the fight against tuberculosis. Good news for those suffering from multi-drug resistant TB is that tests on new drugs in Cape Town and Bellville could shorten the treatment for the disease.
Currently sufferers have to be in treatment for two years. This often leads to shirking, defaulting and dropping off the protocol, thus worsening the prospects of recovery.
South Africa has a very dangerously high number of people who are infected with the disease. KwaZulu-Natal has a frightening rate of 1054 in a 100000 people recorded as suffering from TB and MDR TB.
The disease is highly infectious and has a social stigma attached to it.
Whole families have died one after the other.
The many euphemisms used for the virus often mask its deadly touch.
It is also linked to HIV-Aids infections as the body's immune system is too weak to fight off the virus. It has led to a high number of deaths in the last 10 years. It is believed the new drugs will shorten the length of the treatment to six months.
TB has also been linked to high levels of poverty.
South Africa has many living under the poverty line, which makes them vulnerable to the disease. The patients also qualify for disability grants which further saps the public purse.
We hope this new drug treatment will mean a better life for the sufferers and will also allay the fears of the public.
It will be a great achievement for the country.
TB relief on the horizon
SOUTH Africa could provide a huge relief in the fight against tuberculosis. Good news for those suffering from multi-drug resistant TB is that tests on new drugs in Cape Town and Bellville could shorten the treatment for the disease.
Currently sufferers have to be in treatment for two years. This often leads to shirking, defaulting and dropping off the protocol, thus worsening the prospects of recovery.
South Africa has a very dangerously high number of people who are infected with the disease. KwaZulu-Natal has a frightening rate of 1054 in a 100000 people recorded as suffering from TB and MDR TB.
The disease is highly infectious and has a social stigma attached to it.
Whole families have died one after the other.
The many euphemisms used for the virus often mask its deadly touch.
It is also linked to HIV-Aids infections as the body's immune system is too weak to fight off the virus. It has led to a high number of deaths in the last 10 years. It is believed the new drugs will shorten the length of the treatment to six months.
TB has also been linked to high levels of poverty.
South Africa has many living under the poverty line, which makes them vulnerable to the disease. The patients also qualify for disability grants which further saps the public purse.
We hope this new drug treatment will mean a better life for the sufferers and will also allay the fears of the public.
It will be a great achievement for the country.
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