It is concerning stats – South Africa is recorded as the country with the third highest TB incidence in the World, Western Cape is ranked second in the country and Kleinmond has an exceptionally high TB incidence for its population compared to other areas in the Overstrand.
This according to the Primary Health Care Unit. The World Health Organisation has proclaimed March as World TB Month with 24 March being World TB Day.
“One of the serious after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been us losing valuable ground in the fight against the twin diseases of TB and HIV,” said Joan Daries, manager of Mthimkhulu Community Development. “This has resulted in the reversal of the gains that have been achieved before the pandemic hit.”
The Primary Health Care Unit of the Overberg District Health office is partnering with Mthimkhulu Community Development to coordinate an intensive screening campaign in Kleinmond to identify positive TB cases and get them into treatment so that they can curb the spread of TB, especially MDR TB, which is currently circulating in the community.
“We will host a major anti-TB activation on Tuesday 22 March from 9am to 2pm at two strategic locations in Kleinmond,” she said. “We aim to do mass screenings and sputum testing as well as offer other health services for children and adults, including family planning.”
The activation on 22 March will be on the open site, opposite Siyabulela ECD in Nemesia Road, in the morning and the Mountain View Park in School Street in the afternoon. The Unicef Bus with its stage and movie screen will be present, along with several vehicles from the Department of Health, where screenings and other health services will be offered with the required privacy. Children will be able to get services such as Vitamin A, Deworming, Personal Hygiene. A dietician will also be available to check weight and nutritional status, but the children must be accompanied by their parents.
“To attract as many people as possible we will have stage performances and lucky hamper draws for those who can show that they were screened,” Daries said. “We need support from businesses and the public in the following ways: non-perishable food for grocery hampers, fruit and vegetables, monetary donations that will enable Mthimkhulu Community Development to intensify its community awareness campaigns, screening and referral activities and a sustained media campaign for TB/HIV and other preventable diseases.”
For more information phone 028 2715213 or 082 823 5624 or send an email to joan@grailprogrammes.org.za.
