New bid to fight TB among poor
2006-03-24 17:47
Durban - The government plans to improve staff and management of tuberculosis (TB) services and to enhance access to laboratory services.
This forms part of a TB crisis plan launched by health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang at world tuberculosis day at Durban's King George V Hospital on Friday.
"The plan that we have devised tackles some fundamental shortcomings in our TB control system that have undermined our best efforts to get to grips with this disease," said Tshabalala-Msimang.
"At the same time, the plan allows us to prioritise some well-targeted, highly focused interventions that will achieve significant results within this year."
The plan is also to mobilise local TB action teams to create high levels of public awareness of the disease and to generate a climate of social concern.
"This grassroots communication will be accompanied by mass media information campaigns," she said.
The plan envisages increased resources for TB management from existing health budgets, foreign funding and the private sector.
- SAPA