Patients at Temba TB hospital marched together with staff and the community on Wednesday 16 April to raise awareness about tuberculosis in Grahamstown.
Patients at Temba TB hospital marched together with staff and the community on Wednesday 16 April to raise awareness about tuberculosis in Grahamstown.
TB Day aimed at educating the community about TB (tuberculosis) and at celebrating the institution's success in fighting the spread of the disease over the past year.
The theme for this year is "Zero new infections, deaths, stigma and discrimination from TB and HIV in my lifetime".
Nursing manager at Temba TB hospital, Nelisa Dantyi, said it was the first time this year the hospital organised an awareness day.
"We have the support of the District and the Sub District of the Department in this campaign."
"What we have found is that TB is still on the rise in Grahamstown. What we have done is to go to the nearby communities and investigate what is causing this," said Dantyi.
She said they went on a door-to-door campaign, trying to find out what was causing the rise in TB infections.
"We went to Vukani location and Fingo village to speak to the community and to investigate why there was a rise. We found out that there were many people who have been infected and also those who have defaulted on their treatment," Dantyi said.
Temba TB hospital is now a satellite for Multi Drug Resistant (MDR-TB) patients to alleviate the pressure at Majorie Parish.
"Sometimes their hospital is full and there are no beds," said Dantyi.
Community Work Programme workers also marched with Temba patients, as did pupils from Andrew Moyakhe primary school.
Lulama Nxopo, a grade-R teacher at Andrew Moyakhe, said the schools supports the hospital when they have awareness days.
"TB awareness is also part of our curriculum and we work with Temba hospital and Nathaniel Nyaluza to raise awareness," said Nxopo.
She said it would be much better if the community at large and churches got involved in the fight against TB.
"There are other schools in the community but only these two schools are visible. It is not an extra-mural activity. It is part of their educations at school; they must get involved," Nxopo said.
