SA govt plans to build TB hospitals

Government is planning to build tuberculosis (TB) treatment hospitals in all nine provinces. This was announced at the National TB conference currently underway in Durban.

TB has been identified as the leading cause of death in South Africa. Poverty and non-adherence to treatment are cited as the highest contributors to TB mortality.

The South African government has also implemented the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols such as TB infection controls, ventilation and masks. However, government admits there are still gaps in the control and management of the disease. These include poor linkages between the public and private health sectors and NGOs, and also monitoring of out-patients who often default on treatment.

The Department of Health’s TB Manager, Lindiwe Mvusi, says: “We need to intensify the education and counselling of the patients, to make sure that they are aware of the implications of not completing treatment and take responsibility of their own health."

The absence of a legal framework to isolate TB patients is also a challenge for the health sector. Mark Heywood, from the Aids Law Project, says: “Simply isolating people in hospitals where they don’t have access to their families ... where they feel they are treated like prisoners is not the proper solution." Heywood says community-based organisations should be also allowed to play a bigger role in helping TB patients and their families.

The conference ends tomorrow.