Prisoners, miners and those who live in the vicinity of mines will all receive regular mandatory tuberculosis (TB) screenings, this is a promise made by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
He said they have noticed a growing trend of TB infections at mines and correctional services and have to act on it.
"We want to bring an end to this TB. I have made a proposal that we do a 90-90-90 method in TB in that we need to test 90% of the population, put 90% on treatment and be 90% cured.
"We want to do a massive screening so we have identified those who are more vulnerable, populations that are more vulnerable to TB. We found out there are three main ones – people who are in correctional services facilities and there are 150 000 of them, people who are working in the mines in South Africa and there is half a million of them and what we call peri-mining communities, people who are staying around the around mines," he explained.
Dr Motsoaledi was speaking to Sowetan LIVE at the World innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar where he was invited to speak on the panel that was discussing the changing pattern of infectious diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
According to Dr Motsoaledi, because of over-population, people who are in the correctional services are more vulnerable to TB because they live close to each other and those working the mines are also more vulnerable because they consume what he described as silica dust which increases the chances of getting TB.
"For those people who are working the mines especially in the gold mines, if you got silicosis that means an accumulation of silica dust in your lings which you have been inhaling over many years, chances of getting TB increase six times. If you have got both HIV and silicosis your chances of getting TB increase 18 times."
Dr Motsoaledi said that he feels the fight against TB has been sidelined for far too long when it is more dangerous than most diseases.
"You can make a decision that you will not get HIV-AIDS and therefore decide to use protection but you can't choose not to get TB."
Over 80% of HIV-AIDS related deaths have proven to be caused by TB.
"HIV-AIDS came carrying TB on its back and just threw back on our laps when we thought we finished with it. 80 percent of people who die because of HIV and AIDS problems are actually killed by TB."
Dr Motsoaledi said that people who are infected with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of getting TB.
"If you are infect with HIV/AIDS your chances of getting TB increases three times."
Miners and prisoners to receive mandatory TB screenings: Motsoaledi
Prisoners, miners and those who live in the vicinity of mines will all receive regular mandatory tuberculosis (TB) screenings, this is a promise made by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
He said they have noticed a growing trend of TB infections at mines and correctional services and have to act on it.
"We want to bring an end to this TB. I have made a proposal that we do a 90-90-90 method in TB in that we need to test 90% of the population, put 90% on treatment and be 90% cured.
"We want to do a massive screening so we have identified those who are more vulnerable, populations that are more vulnerable to TB. We found out there are three main ones – people who are in correctional services facilities and there are 150 000 of them, people who are working in the mines in South Africa and there is half a million of them and what we call peri-mining communities, people who are staying around the around mines," he explained.
Dr Motsoaledi was speaking to Sowetan LIVE at the World innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar where he was invited to speak on the panel that was discussing the changing pattern of infectious diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
According to Dr Motsoaledi, because of over-population, people who are in the correctional services are more vulnerable to TB because they live close to each other and those working the mines are also more vulnerable because they consume what he described as silica dust which increases the chances of getting TB.
"For those people who are working the mines especially in the gold mines, if you got silicosis that means an accumulation of silica dust in your lings which you have been inhaling over many years, chances of getting TB increase six times. If you have got both HIV and silicosis your chances of getting TB increase 18 times."
Dr Motsoaledi said that he feels the fight against TB has been sidelined for far too long when it is more dangerous than most diseases.
"You can make a decision that you will not get HIV-AIDS and therefore decide to use protection but you can't choose not to get TB."
Over 80% of HIV-AIDS related deaths have proven to be caused by TB.
"HIV-AIDS came carrying TB on its back and just threw back on our laps when we thought we finished with it. 80 percent of people who die because of HIV and AIDS problems are actually killed by TB."
Dr Motsoaledi said that people who are infected with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of getting TB.
"If you are infect with HIV/AIDS your chances of getting TB increases three times."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos