Drug resistant TB remains a challenge

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday March 12, 2018 12:07

 

In his recurrent and development budget proposals of 2018-2019, the assistant Minister of Health and Wellness (MoH&W) Dikgang Makgalemele stated that the drug resistant forms of TB remain a major threat in this fight with about 100 cases of Multi drug resistant TB and two cases of Extremely Drug Resistant (XDR) TB reported annually.

“The fight against Tuberculosis (TB) is on-going through the use of Global Fund resources. Drug resistant forms of TB remain a major threat in this fight with about 100 cases of Multi drug resistant TB and two cases of Extremely Drug Resistant (XDR) TB reported annually. Over the past years, significant progress has been made with regards to diagnostic tests and MDR-TB treatment,” he said in his Committee of Supply speech.

He said through the rollout of Community TB/HIV care, patients were able to take their TB treatment at home and their workplaces.

In addition, Makgalemele pointed out that through Global Fund support, his Ministry opened an occupational health service center in Molepolole to address TB in the mining sector and thus allowing miners and ex-miners to access services such as medical examinations and compensations, without travelling to South Africa.