As the world continues to grapple with tuberculosis (TB), a longstanding public health concern, there remains an urgent need to address the challenges within the National TB Programme. While there has been progress in increasing the number of individuals receiving care and returning to pre-COVID performance levels within the National TB Programme, there are still issues that need to be addressed. These include ensuring funding, enhancing accountability, and strengthening bi-directional decision-making. One of our TB podcast speakers, Dr Waasila Jassat, who currently provides technical support to the National TB Programme and chairs the TB vaccines working group, notes that […]
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Malnutrition remains a significant public health issue in South Africa, affecting various age groups and contributing to a range of health issues including an increased vulnerability to diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). As the country observes National Nutrition Week 2024 from 9-15 October, the theme “Eat Right for a Better Life!” underscores the important role of nutrition in improving the overall well-being. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about healthy eating practices and to encourage communities to embrace balanced diets. Nzama Mbalati, CEO at HEALA, highlights that this week serves as an important reminder of the link between healthy […]
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The TB Accountability Consortium will be joining hands with the provincial health department in KwaZulu-Natal to improve the TB response in the province. The province remains one of South Africa’s TB hotspots in South Africa, where 54 000 people still die of TB each year despite it being a preventable and treatable disease. In July, the TBAC outreach team met with the Provincial Department of Health to talk about some of the challenges that were being experienced. At the top of the list was the absence of communication campaigns. According to Rosslyn Page, the TB control program’s Advocacy Communication and […]
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Traditional medicine has been deeply rooted in African culture and identity for centuries, providing essential healthcare and wellbeing to communities across the continent. August 26 – 31 2024 marks the annual African Traditional Medicine Week, a celebration of the diverse and vibrant traditions of African medicine, from herbal remedies to spiritual healing practices. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for collaboration between African Traditional Medicine (ATM) and Western medicine to improve healthcare outcomes for patients and explore the importance of ATM in its interaction with the health system around patient care. This is especially […]
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21 August 2024 South Africa has made significant gains in reversing the losses following the two-year response to the global covid pandemic. In the last year, we have seen a significant increase in TB testing with increases in the number of people initiated on TB treatment. Avoidable TB deaths remain way too high with over 50 000 people losing their lives annually to a curable and preventable disease. Ending TB will require a whole of society approach, and it is to this end that the TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC) welcomes the signing in of the second Presidential Health Compact by […]
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For an average Mankosi Village resident to get to the nearest healthcare facility, it takes hours to get there. Mankosi is a remote rural community in the Eastern Cape with about 6000 residents, 60km outside of Mthatha. For Nozibongo Tyalinkomo, a Mankosi resident, it takes a huge toll on her to go to the nearest clinic because she has to walk long distances to and from the clinic, or hire a car that will cost her a lot of money. This challenge is just one of many faced by residents when seeking healthcare. Other challenges that they face include the […]
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