Boksburg: Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his role as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), is set to address the closing session of the 9th South African TB Conference at the Birchwood Hotel and O.R Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng. The conference, which began on 8 June, will conclude on Thursday, 11 June.
According to South African Government News Agency, the conference is being held under the theme: "Vuka, Let's Unite Towards a TB-Free World!" It provides a national platform for government, academia, civil society, development partners, healthcare professionals, researchers, and communities to reflect on progress in the fight against TB and identify measures needed to accelerate South Africa's response to the epidemic.
The Presidency stated, "The elimination of TB remains a national priority. Government, together with civil society, development partners, research institutions, communities, and the private sector, continues to strengthen efforts to end TB as a public health threat and address its impact on vulnerable communities, economic productivity, and the health system."
Deputy President Mashatile's address will reaffirm the government's commitment to ending TB, recognize the progress made so far, and call for renewed partnerships to tackle persistent challenges. These challenges include TB mortality, TB/HIV co-infection, drug-resistant TB, and the socio-economic impact of the disease on households and communities.
