“The people of Limpopo must join hands as we undertake the task to stop TB. We all have an obligation to create a society that is free of suffering from TB.”

This was the message of the executive mayor of the Vhembe District municipality, Cllr Falaza Mdaka, during a World TB Day awareness event that was held at Mashamba Tshivhuyuni village in the Waterval area last Tuesday (24th).

In his address on behalf of the MEC of the Department of Health and Social Development, Mr Seaparo Sekoati, the executive mayor said that TB was one of the major health challenges currently facing South Africa and Limpopo in particular.

“The challenge is to improve awareness about the symptoms, encourage people to have themselves tested and assist patients to complete their treatment for the period of six to eight months. Failure to complete TB treatment poses major challenges, particularly with the development of drug-resistant strains of TB,” he said.

“Government spends at least R400 per patient for treating ordinary TB. For multi-drug resistance, the cost of TB treatment increases dramatically to R24 000 per patient. We therefore have to intensify our efforts to raise awareness about the symptoms of TB,” he said.

According to statistics, the most affected districts in Limpopo are Vhembe, Capricorn and Mopani, which contribute 70% towards the total burden in the province. Vhembe District was also identified as one of the four districts with a high number of TB cases as well as a low cure rate.

A former TB patient who spoke to Mirror during the event was Mr Michael Hobyani. He had been suffering from the disease since 2007. According to Hobyani, he is now living a normal life, following treatment.

“If a person is suffering from TB and he follows the treatment, it is easy for the person to be cured. I am therefore urging all the people of Limpopo, and Vhembe in particular, who might be suffering from TB, to complete their treatment,” he said.

World TB Day is an annual event that is held to raise awareness about this disease which, ac-cording to the World Health Organization (WHO), kills at least 1 million people every year.

TB is a disease caused by social conditions which include poverty, poor nutrition, overcrowded housing, poor working conditions such as in dust-filled mines and compromised immunity.