By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The MEC for Health in Mpumalanga, Sasekani Manzini, delivered the keynote address in an event to commemorate World TB Day at Mandla Magudumela Stadium, in Mkhondo Local Municipality, on Friday 28 March 2025.
Manzini was standing in for the Premier of Mpumalanga and Chairperson of MPAC(Mpumalanga Provincial AIDS Council), Mandla Ndlovu.
According to the Department of Health, the event was geared towards highlighting the devastating health, social and economic impact of TB, as well as building awareness about the global epidemic of Tuberculosis and profile efforts to eliminate the disease.
In her address, MEC Manzini commended the Gert Sibande District Municipality for the low defaulter rate, which is sitting on 5.0%, on patients who are on TB treatment. She encouraged those on TB treatment to understand the importance of finishing their prescription in order to heal from the epidemic.
In addition, MEC Manzini revealed that the TB success rate in the province is said to be sitting on 72.2%.
“ World TB Day is aimed at educating the public about the impact of TB around the world. We must raise awareness on the efforts by government to treat and prevent the disease. You must take charge of your own health, and as government we are on a campaign to find patients who are no longer taking their medication so that we can encourage them to continue,” said Manzini.
South Africa is reportedly counted amongst countries with high TB infections, with an estimated 56 000 people succumbing to the disease every year, of which more than half(54%) of the victims are people living with HIV.
The Department stated that a clarion call has been made to leaders to champion TB efforts in their respective constituencies, under the theme “Yes! You and I Can End TB”. This is viewed as part of encouraging individual action from all the people of the province to contribute to the National effort to combat TB.
Mpumalanga TB Ambassador, Thembi Nkomo, thanked the provincial government and the Department of Health for rescuing her life from the epidemic, thorough the provision of efficient healthcare. She also emphasised that people in the farms must be aware of the dangers of ignoring TB treatment.
“ I’m standing here to testify that I have not received any help to cure my TB elsewhere, except from the treatment I received from the Department of Health. I have suffered from TB five times. I’ve used crutches, but I’m here today. It is us who can help to combat TB. You must take your treatment because one infected person can pass the disease to fifteen other people. I’m calling upon the Department of Agriculture to team up with the Department of Health and encourage people to start food garden at homes and clinics. It is up to us to break the stigma,” said Nkomo.
The Department said the National End TB campaign, which will be implemented in phases, aims to reduce TB incidence and mortality in South Africa by 2035, and the starting point is to focus on Case Finding and Linkage to care in the year 2025/2026.
Additionally, the Department said the campaign aims to diagnose new TB cases in 2025/2026 through testing, to be achieved by implementing TUTT(Accelerated Targeted Universal TB Testing), in order to reach people living with HIV and household contacts of confirmed TB.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Executive Mayors, Civil Society, Private Sector, Traditional Healers/Practitioners, to name but a few.
