Summary Report on TB Day Commemoration

SUMMARY REPORT ON TB DAY

Commemoration

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The Eastern Cape Province held a World TB Day commemoration on 19 April in Dimbaza, a small village in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCM). The event was a joint venture between the Eastern Cape AIDS Council (ECAC) and the Department of Health (DoH). It was preceded by build-up programmes led by BCM the Department of Health, working together with development partners in providing essential health care services. The target groups were farm workers, auto motive sector workers, school children and PLHIV.

On the day of the event, the political heads, including the MEC (DoH) and the Deputy Executive Mayor of BCM attended. They first started at a local High School to hear about the health challenges that the learners face. They then visited two households of TB survivors, one who had completed their TB treatment and was cured, and the other who was still on treatment but feeling much better. The Chiefs from the House of Traditional Leaders were also in attendance, which is a big deal in rural communities to be visited by such high-profile leaders. Representatives from the development partners like TB/HIV Care, MATCH, FPD, Beyond Zero were also in attendance.

Services-on wheels were provided and included TB screening, STI screening, HIV testing, dental services, Pap smear, Blood pressure and blood sugar testing, and many others. Loud hailing was done all around the community, calling them to go and access the services brought closer to where they live, as per the Batho Pele Principle. The Provincial Civil Society Forum Co-Chairperson and Provincial TB ambassador gave a passionate speech about the importance of getting screened for TB should one have TB-like symptoms, getting on TB treatment and staying the course until completed so that they can get cured and also prevent spreading the infection to those close to them.