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The coronavirus outbreak in South Africa has affected the tuberculosis (TB) treatment program, according to a tuberculosis prevalence survey released on Friday.
The survey found that the prevalence of tuberculosis was estimated at 737 per 100,000 population in the country.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said there were “many people with undetected TB in their communities and this involved continued transmissions”.
Speaking on the report’s virtual release, Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the lockdown measures were leading to the decline of TB patients who were collecting life-saving drugs at health centers.
“The advent of COVID -19 has affected access to anti-tuberculosis treatment. Some people avoided public spaces and treatment for fear of contracting the virus, ”he said.
Phaahla added that the department could learn lessons on how the current pandemic has been handled to fight tuberculosis.
“Some of the COVID-19 interventions can be used in our treatment of tuberculosis. We must use the challenges of COVID-19 to help us fight tuberculosis, ”he added.
Some of the survey’s key recommendations include increasing testing and testing services “through outreach programs using mobile testing and x-ray facilities”, allowing people living with HIV to routinely screen for tuberculosis. .
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