Western cape: South Africa’s Tuberculosis (TB) programme has achieved remarkable success in reducing the rate of incidence, which is the number of new cases each year. This progress comes as the government’s efforts to reduce the rate of TB infection and disease continue to make gains.

According to South African Government News Agency, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who also serves as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), highlighted these achievements during the national World TB Day commemorative event at the Caledon Sports Grounds. Mashatile noted that by 2024, there has been a 61% reduction in the incidence rate of TB. He emphasized the improved treatment outcomes for drug-resistant TB patients, with a 79% treatment success rate, marking a milestone as lost-to-follow-up rates for Drug-Resistant TB have entered single digits due to accelerated efforts in implementing shorter, more effective treatment regimens.

Mashatile acknowledged the progress made but also pointed out areas needing improvement. He stated that the proportion of estimated TB cases successfully placed on treatment dipped from 79% to 74% in the past year, calling for increased efforts to close this gap. He mentioned that the government’s End TB campaign has shown strong momentum, achieving 70% of the ambitious testing target with over 3.5 million tests conducted since the campaign’s launch during last year’s World TB Day in KwaZulu-Natal.

Despite the gains, TB remains a significant public health concern and the leading cause of death, especially for People Living with HIV. The Deputy President expressed concern over the slight decrease in overall TB deaths, achieving only a 17% reduction compared to the 2015 baseline, falling short of the 75% target. He stressed the need for a more patient-centered response to address the socio-economic constraints faced by 56% of people affected by TB, as identified by the 2021 TB Survey.

Mashatile urged for early detection and patient-centered approaches to break the cycle of infection, protect families and communities, and ultimately save lives. He called on men, who have shown a higher positivity rate despite fewer tests, to get tested for TB. He also advised those in close contact with TB patients to seek testing and treatment immediately and consider TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) if they test negative.

Source: South African Government News Agency