The City of Johannesburg has stepped up its efforts to “END TB” by 2030 as per World Health Organisation’s END TB strategy.

As part of our efforts to eliminate TB, the Health Department in the City of Johannesburg will create awareness and screen patients for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/Aids.

The important part of this year’s outreach is to improve access to TB/HIV services and find TB/HIV missing patients who were diagnosed but did not start or continue with their treatment.

Activities will include community campaigns, engaging communities using community radio stations and webinar sessions that will be streamed live on City of Johannesburg’s social media platforms.

As the world marks World TB Day on 24 March 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said an estimated 10 million people become ill from TB in 2019 in 198 countries and 1.4 million died from this disease in the same period. About also 465 000 fell ill from the severe form of TB known as drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2019 globally.

According to the WHO, South Africa is among eight countries that accounted for two-thirds of the global total in the world, contributing 3.6% to this total in 2019.

This year’s South African theme is “Cheka Impilo: It’s time for Health Care Workers and Legislators to lead the fight to end TB” and the global theme is ‘The clock is ticking’. TB screening and treatment is free at all City of Johannesburg clinics.

The City of Johannesburg Health Department urges residents to visit their nearest clinics if they notice any symptoms of TB. The most common TB symptoms include a cough that continues for more than two weeks or any duration if you are HIV positive, fever that last longer than 14 days; unexplained weight loss, night sweats and fatigue.

TB is curable. To prevent the spread of TB, patients need to take their treatment every day for a minimum period of six months even if they feel better. Always go back to see your healthcare worker if you experience any side effects.

Edwin Madibogo, City of Johannesburg’s Public Health Manager, urges families to support and encourage TB/HIV family members to finish their treatment. It also urges communities to “STOP stigma against these patients”.

Send a WhatsApp message “TB” to +27 60 012 3456 to screen yourself for TB.