Reflections on World TB Day: Message from the TBTT Chair
World TB Day is a time to reflect on outstanding challenges and build on successes in the fight against TB. This year’s theme was “Yes! We can End TB” and was marked by numerous events across the country. These included the launch of the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (NSP), a focus on the mining sector in Rustenburg, North West Province, and a TB Summit in Kimberley, Northern Cape. World TB Day also marked a shift in the national focus from recovering TB programme losses from the COVID-19 pandemic to a long-term vision for reducing TB incidence and mortality by 2028.
The NSP’s release opens the door to the government, funders and partner organisations to begin a process of scaling up tried and tested interventions such as digital chest x-ray for TB screening, urine LAM for the diagnosis of TB among people with low CD4 cell counts, and TB preventive treatment for people at a higher risk of TB disease. It also brings new interventions to the table, such as shortened regimens for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB as well as TB in children, and shines a brighter light on the increased risk for TB in health workers, the need for greater political involvement through the implementation of Provincial TB Caucuses, and a rejuvenated effort to utilise clinical and laboratory data to drive TB programming. The release of the NSP provides a sneak peek into the national TB programme’s strategic plan, due out in May 2023.
In Rustenburg, North West, the Deputy Minister of Health and the National TB Programme hosted an evening event with diverse representation from the mining sector, and various partners, including companies, government entities, unions, and current and ex-mine workers. The event focused on a renewed effort to partner with the mining sector to mitigate TB infection and disease and assist mine workers with post-TB sequelae. Progress against the SADC Declaration on TB in the mines was also discussed. Eleven years down the line, a lot is still to be done. However, we are moving in the right direction.
In the Northern Cape, the site of one of the newest Global Fund focus districts, a TB summit was held to celebrate the successes of the provincial TB program and discuss areas to strengthen as implementing partners begin their work in Francis Baard District. Areas of strength included the province’s increase in TB testing, TB notifications that meet provincial targets, and the work of the Clinical Advisory Committee for the treatment of people with drug-resistant TB. Future areas of focus include strengthening linkage pathways through the emphasis on cell phone communication and confirmatory referrals from the hospital to a facility; the introduction of Germicidal Ultraviolet lights in facilities; health system strengthening through online learning platforms, improved recording guidance for managers, and increased synergy between clinical and data clerks; enhanced advocacy through the development of TB adherence groups; and stronger support linked to civil society and political entities.
These were but a few of the many events hosted across the TB Think Tank to declare “Yes! We can End TB.” We look forward to building on this energy to support TB research and programming throughout the year.
Prof N Ndjeka.
TB TT Chair.
World TB Day build up events
It was all hands on deck for the National TB Programme (NTP) for the recent World TB Day (March 24, 2023). Several events were lined up throughout the month, an emphatic testament to the commitment to ending TB and consistent with the theme:. “Yes, we can end TB!” Buildt-up activities were held in all districts where TB screening was strengthened through outreach programs using the TB screening/bidirectional tools and the TB Health Check apps. Several civil society groups and departments hosted at least 12 policy-in-action activities around Rustenburg, where the main event was hosted. These included the higher education sector, labour, law and human rights, traditional healers, the PLWHA sector, and many more.
The NTP-hosted event was the Mining Indaba on the eve of World TB Day. The event had an attendance of 200 with much discussions on TB in mining communities. Emphasis was placed on primary TB prevention by addressing social determinants of health among miners and their families and the need for seamless healthcare systems for migrant labourers through the effective implementation of the 2012 Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) declaration on TB in the mining sector. Dr Barry Kistnasamy, the compensation commissioner at the NDoH, spoke candidly and passionately about the compensation scheme for ex-miners, highlighting the good news about the substantial progress made so far, and indicating that the main challenge is the traceability of the ex-miners or their dependents to access available compensation.
World TB Day 2023
The World TB Day 2023 main event took place at Tlhabane, Bojanala District in the North West province, where delegates from Department of Health (National and Provincial), World Health Organization representatives, development partners, civil society, the TB Think Tank, and communities were part of the event.
The national commemorations were sealed by the TB Summit that was held in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, on March 30 and 31, 2023.
During World TB Day commemorations, Prof. Norbert Ndjeka highlighted how the NTP has been responsive through the TB Recovery Plan from April 2022 to March 2023 to combat losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In both NTP activities over the WTBD commemoration, Prof. Norbert Ndjeka highlighted how the NTP has been responsive through the TB Recovery Plan from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 to combat losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Launch of the NSP
The official commemoration of World TB Day and Launch of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs for 2023-2028 took place in Rustenburg, Tlhabane Stadium, in the North West Province. This encouraging occasion was graced by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). The fifth National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs dubbed “The People’s NSP”, is by far the most critical as it will be the last plan ahead of the Agenda 2030 and the EndTB Strategy, where the global community committed to end AIDS and TB by the year 2030.
Read more about Agenda 2030 here
Release of the new LTBI guidelines
The long-awaited Guidelines for the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis have been released and are available on our very own TB Think Tank website.
Click here to access the guidelines.
TB TT Welcomes the new Task Team leadership
The beginning of the year 2023 saw the TB Think Tank welcome new leadership for two Task Teams. The TB Prevention Task Team has experienced a total transformation from one Chair to a Chair with two Co-Chairs leading the team. Ms Deanne Goldberg and Dr Nkateko Mkhondo were elected as co-leads, with Ms Tebogo Sole-Moloto as the Chair.
Mr Elias Ramarumo has also joined the Finding Missing Patients Task Team as a Co-Chair to support fellow co-lead Dr Kavi Velen and Chair Dr Limakatso Lebina. We warmly welcome the new members into the leadership and look forward to their contribution to the fight against TB.
Thank you note to Prof Harry Hausler
On behalf of the Secretariat and the TB Think Tank, I would like to extend a special thank you to Prof Harry Hausler for his passionate and tireless leadership of the TB Prevention Task Team over the past six years. This Task team has commissioned and led many initiatives in the field of TB Prevention, but the most notable achievement is the development and the finalization of the new guidelines for treatment of latent TB. We can be proud that we have a very comprehensive and groundbreaking set of guidelines that will set the tone for TB preventive treatment implementation throughout sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions. Together with the new leadership of the TB Prevention task team, we look forward to a continued working relationship in the future and to be guided by your wisdom and support.
Salome Charalambous
TBTT Secretariat
Things to look out for in the near future
- post-TB lung health symposium
The 2nd International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium will be taking place at the STIAS Institute in Stellenbosch from 17-19 April 2023 Stellenbosch, South Africa. This year’s symposium has been themed ‘Life After TB’ and will entail three days of powerful talks and workshops amongst patients, clinicians, researchers, basic scientists, epidemiologists, and stakeholders. Read more about it here
- Results from the Modelling of the impact of COVID-19 on TB programs at sub national levels.
- TB-Mate preliminary results – Date in May to be announced and invite shared widely in due course.
Webinars