Gauteng marks World TB Day zoning in on TB testing in mines
As part of its contribution to reduce the country’s TB burden over the next year, South Africa’s economic hub will be focusing on testing miners and getting them on treatment.
On World TB Day, South Africa’s National Department of Health rolled out the End TB campaign, an ambitious plan to test 5 million people for TB this year in a bid to reduce the country’s burden.
This year’s Gauteng commemoration of World TB Day took place at Harmony Gold Kusasalethu Mine on March 27, where delegates focused on the urgent need for accelerated TB testing, particularly in the mining sector.
According to the TB in the Mining Sector in Southern Africa (TIMS) report, the sector remains highly vulnerable, with estimated 89% of South Africa’s mineworkers having latent TB infection, showing no symptoms. Mine workers are at a higher risk of contracting TB due to overcrowded living conditions, long hours in poorly ventilated spaces and high rates of HIV co-infection. HIV prevalence among miners stands at 24%. TB rates in the mining sector are estimated ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 cases per 100,000 population, much higher than the general population’s rate currently at 486 per 100,000 population.
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) report reveals that the mining sector is a hotspot for TB, including drug-resistant TB, which is harder to treat. The movement of mineworkers across provincial and national borders, combined with poor cross-border healthcare systems, has exacerbated the problem. These issues contribute to the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, which are challenging to control and treat effectively.
Floyd Masemula, Harmony Gold Deputy CEO, noted that World TB Day is an important reminder to people about how infectious TB is. He mentioned that efforts are being made to combat and prevent TB through collaboration with health professionals and encouraged miners to get tested for TB and adhere to their treatment regimens.
Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko also supported these efforts by emphasising the province’s plan to opening more TB clinics and hospitals in collaboration with the mining industry. This collaboration aims to reduce mortality rates and improve treatment outcomes for those affected by TB.
Nkomo-Ralehoko emphasised the government’s aim to screen 1.4 million people and improve treatment adherence.
“Mortality remains high with treatment at 67% which is below the country’s target of 90%. Gauteng plans to identify those who are missing and link them back to the care” she said.
Over the next 12 months, the National Department of Health plans to reduce its TB burden by testing 5 million people.
This year’s World TB Day means that South Africa now only has 10 years to meet the first set of goals set by the World Health Organisation on its End TB strategy. These include increasing its treatment coverage rate by 13% by getting those missing patients onto treatment and reducing TB deaths by 46 000 per year.
Gladys Tshabalala, Gauteng Chairperson for SANAC, who was also at the event, stressed the importance of accelerating TB testing, expanding mobile clinics and increasing diagnostic tools. “The need for accelerated TB testing has never been more urgent. Early detection and treatment are key to controlling the spread of the disease and preventing further complications.” she stated.
She further noted that, “while South Africa has made some progress, much more still needs to be done. This year’s theme “Commit, Invest, Deliver” calls for continued investment in testing, treatment and prevention to make progress towards ending TB.”
It also calls for collective responsibility to end TB by 2035 by committing and investing in strong efforts to find and test people to improve TB health outcomes.