- Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo visited the Karl Bremer Hospital on Wednesday to launch a plan aimed at reducing the spread of TB in the province.
- It follows an undertaking by Winde on World TB Day to report back with a detailed plan within a month.
- The plan includes a dashboard being launched as well as rapid testing.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has launched the province's tuberculosis (TB) emergency response plan aimed at reducing the spread of TB in the province.
Winde and Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo visited the Karl Bremer Hospital in Cape Town on Wednesday to launch the plan.
It follows an earlier undertaking by Winde on World TB Day in March to report back with a detailed plan within a month.
WATCH ??Press Briefing on the Western Cape Government TB Response Plan ??https://t.co/rwvfRbjtZw pic.twitter.com/nXeHL9Cb42
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) April 28, 2021
Winde said TB should be treated as an emergency.
"We are going to use this plan, to work with this plan in a number of our districts. This is about an effective response. If we look at the statistics of the world, Covid-19 has pushed back our fight globally of TB by six to eight years."
He said the province will be launching a dashboard and app on infections and embark on rapid testing.
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"We will establish a multi-caucus in our legislature and it will play an oversight role. We also are striving to get the whole of society involved, including businesses and stakeholders. This is a whole-of-society approach and a partnership with civil society," he said.
Mbombo said everyone has been concerned about Covid-19 but the focus should not be taken away from TB.
"This plan, which I am endorsing, covers many areas among them to expedite the treatment of TB. It's about strengthening innovation and assisting the health system through a holistic approach with the public. TB is a socio-economic disease. It targets poor people and those who are vulnerable."
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