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Could tongue swabs help close South Africa’s TB testing gap?

By: Aphelele Buqwana Getting tested for TB often means producing a sputum sample as the first step. But this can be difficult for people who have no symptoms, cannot cough up sputum or cannot easily access their local clinic. In South Africa, these gaps in testing contribute to thousands of people with TB going undiagnosed. An estimated 65 000 people with TB were missed by the health system in 2024, meaning they may not have been diagnosed or received treatment. Researchers in the country are looking at whether a simple tongue swab could offer another way to screen for TB, […]

Gauteng is strengthening its multisectoral response to TB, but persistent gaps remain

Ending TB in South Africa will require more than just a biomedical response. It will need a response that includes social development, recognising TB as more than a health issue, but as a socio-economic challenge shaped by poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and other factors that continue to influence people’s vulnerability to the disease and their ability to complete treatment. However, in Gauteng, efforts to engage a multisectoral response to the disease will need to be strengthened and further built up to improve TB outcomes and close the gaps that continue to fuel the epidemic. Recently, members of the Gauteng Provincial […]

AI-powered digital stethoscope to strengthen early TB screening in South Africa

By: Aphelele Buqwana Efforts to strengthen early TB detection in South Africa continue to be shaped by persistent gaps in access to diagnostic tools and limitations in symptom-based screening, particularly at community level. AI Diagnostics, a South African health-tech company, has developed an artificial intelligence-powered TB screening technology aimed at addressing these challenges. The technology uses a handheld digital stethoscope to record lung sounds, which are analysed using artificial intelligence to identify people at risk of TB in under three minutes using only a smartphone and standardised breathing recordings. It is designed to support healthcare workers in clinics, communities, workplaces and […]

The Next Frontier In South Africa’s TB Response Is Health System Reform

By: Russell Rensburg, Rural Health Advocacy Project South Africa’s battle to tackle one of the world’s oldest, curable and preventable diseases came into the spotlight again at the recent SA TB Conference. Over four days, scientists, researchers, advocates and government officials discussed some of the key challenges in our response to one of the leading causes of death in the country. These include the diagnostic gap, the persistent challenges of adherence, the impact of socioeconomic factors and the need for bolder action and political will. On the other hand, there is genuine reason for optimism. New diagnostic technologies are becoming available. […]

Stakeholders warn improved TB data is not translating into action

By: Aphelele Buqwana Stakeholders at the TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC) fifth annual convening have warned that while South Africa’s TB data systems have improved significantly, the country risks falling short of its elimination targets if data is not translated into concrete action. The convening has become an annual feature for TBAC in recent years, serving as a space where policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, TB champions and community advocates come together to reflect on the state of the country’s TB response. It provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made, address persistent systemic challenges that continue to hinder efforts to end […]

Calls grow for improved TB financing and district-level integration to close service gaps

By: Aphelele Buqwana South Africa’s ability to better integrate TB services at district level to improve service delivery will need not only clinical and operational interventions, but also greater consideration of how socio-economic factors outside the health system drive the progression of the disease. These issues, together with the need for stronger accountability, improved financing and community-led approaches, emerged as recurring themes during a satellite session hosted by TBAC in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa at the 9th SA TB Conference. The session, titled “How better co-ordination, financing and integration can improve TB implementation in districts”, focused on […]

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OPINION | Govt’s lack of transparency makes it difficult to monitor efficacy of TB programmes