The intersecting pandemics of tuberculosis and COVID-19: population-level and patient level impact, clinical presentation, and corrective interventions
23rd March 2022
Tuberkulose: ‘Haal agterstand in, voor dit ons inhaal’
24th March 2022
Gift of the Givers brought tears and joy to two TB survivors by handing them over new wheelchairs. Martin Julius, 63, had his right foot amputated and lost his eye sight, while Anthony Fredericks, 55, had his right leg amputated.
IOL, 24 March 2022
The day which is commemorated annually to raise awareness around the disease and aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent its spread is observed under the theme: “Invest in action to end TB now.”
Tuberculosis has killed more than 1.5 million people globally and South Africa saw 61 000 deaths in 2020.
The Aan-Het-Pad Clinic in Cloetesville was abuzz with activity as about 200 TB patients received long-awaited medical care.
Patients were provided with nutritional food hampers for a month and will be providing the local kitchen with ongoing support to provide the patients with an essential daily meal.
“The clinic management brought the issue of malnutrition to our attention. Patients are having to take medication on empty stomachs, which negatively affects the efficacy of their medication. TB infection is rife in the community, coupled with a high unemployment rate,” said Ali Sablay, the project manager for Gift of the Givers.
“For the last two years, the focus has been on the Covid-19 pandemic at all hospitals. TB patients had to administer their own treatment with great difficulty. Gift to the Givers along with his partners, Centre for Lung infection and Immunity from UCT, the UCT lung Institute, Free of TB and the Antrum Biotech community, provided professional care to these patients,” Sablay said.
UCT Lung Institute researcher Dr Suzette Oelofse said it was important for the day to be observed because everyone had forgotten about TB due to Covid-19.
“It's important to redirect our attention to find all the missing TB cases out in the world. If we work together, we can do it,” she said.
Khilona Radia, the co-founder of Free of TB and CEO of Antrum Biotech developing diagnostic tests for TB, said they spent the day educating the community about how to identify TB symptoms and how to differentiate between a Covid-19 cough and a TB cough.
Cape Times
Read the full text online https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/cloetesville-community-benefits-from-world-tuberculosis-day-a75b92e7-fe2e-4935-8ca4-c5680f099189
