On Wednesday Makana Municipality went to Seven Fountains to commemorate World TB Day, and various speakers on the day emphasised that people should go and get tested for the disease.
On Wednesday Makana Municipality went to Seven Fountains to commemorate World TB Day, and various speakers on the day emphasised that people should go and get tested for the disease.
Some of the dignitaries who came to this event were executive mayor Zamuxolo Peter, speaker of council Rachel Madinda, and Makana Municipality councillors Mabhuti Matyumza, Vuyani Kolisi, Nonzameko Tyantsula and the councillor of that area, Ernest Louw. There were also guests from Correctional Services, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Heath.
Siphokazi Ngcaku from the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape urged people to commit themselves in fighting the spread of TB. People should listen to advices given to them by the Department of Health and others stakeholders. We also now want to take a closer look at places like correctional centres, the taxi industry and in schools, said Ngcaku.
She said if the taxi industry is not targeted, TB will continue affecting more people because they travel long distances with windows closed and that is very dangerous if there is someone with TB inside the taxi. She also said overcrowding in some schools is one of challenges, as overcrowding makes it easier for TB to spread from one person to another. She said now the Department has started a pilot project in OR Tambo Municipality, in which it takes two to three hours for a person to get results and at the same time get medication.
The mayor, Zamuxolo Peter, said they want people to know that there are curable diseases and not sideline people with TB. He said all people must work together in fighting this disease. Peter also spoke of a call for relocation on the part of Temba hospital in Grahamstown, and its removal from its current location to a placement in a central area to facilitate citizen access to healthcare. Temba staff said they wish they could get a centred land where all people can access them easily and we are looking at that.
Louw urged the community of Seven Fountains to stand together in trying to change the situation in their area. To see that change is coming, it has to start in areas like this one. We want to have a clinic here and not depend on the mobile clinics, said Louw. At the moment, people of Seven Fountain are dependant on mobile clinics and also come to Grahamstown to get help.
During the day people were entertained by choirs from the Seven Fountains community and a group of marimba players brought by Correctional Services.
