by Terry McCulloch, for the Friends of the Montagu Hospital Trust
The Montagu Primary Health
Clinic has joined the National campaign to fight TB by building awareness of
the scourge.
From late March the large numbers of people visiting the clinic were all given important information about the symptoms, testing, diagnosis, treatment procedures and recovery process of the disease. And the campaign continues.
South
Africa is ranked fifth on the list of 22 high-burden TB countries in the world.
There
are many different strains of TB, but early diagnosis and treatment holds the
key to a complete recovery.
Since
TB is often associated with HIV, Kobus Esterhuyse of Hospice was invited to
talk on various aspects of HIV, including the effects of the virus on the human
body, the fact that there is hope for infected persons if treated with AVR
drugs.
Kobus (photographed at right)
underlined the point that infected people should not, and need not be
ostracised by society.
Although
TB is rare in developed countries, it is still a serious problem in South
Africa. Almost 100 people are currently receiving treatment at the clinic in
Montagu alone.
Their
contact and interaction with other people at the clinic is strictly controlled
and the threat their infection poses to those around them before the benefit of
the medication kicks in, is carefully explained. After a few weeks of
antibiotic treatment, most TB patients are no longer contagious.
Of
growing concern at the clinic is the fact that a high 10% of children coming
into the clinic are showing symptoms and testing positive. The symptoms include
unexplained ill health, weight loss, chest pains and persistent coughing. At
present there are 45 children with such symptoms, but not testing positive,
receiving a prophylactic antibiotic to lower their risk of full-blown
infection.
What
is tremendously important about this awareness and education campaign is the
fact that TB can be prevented.
In
South Africa the law requires that all children be immunised within three
months from birth. Unfortunately this does not always happen. With greater
public awareness it is believed the spread of TB can be controlled and infected
people cured.
Any views? e-mail us now
montagumail@compuservices.co.za