TB still a leading cause of death

2008-09-11 13:40

Johannesburg - Tuberculosis (TB) has been a leading cause of deaths in Gauteng, a provincial public health profile report has found.

"It is a fact that TB is curable," Health MEC Brian Hlongwa said in releasing the report in Sandton on Thursday.

"One can never overestimate the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

"(If) we paid more attention to our health status, collectively and individually, and sought appropriate treatment after diagnosis we would not have this high death rate," he said,

Hlongwa said the report provided information on the performance of initiatives which sought to improve the province's health status and health service delivery.

It was a first attempt at showing what work was being done and what resources were available to enable a critically evaluation of the environment surrounding health care.

The findings gave the provincial health department an opportunity to develop and inform a planned approach to quality health care delivery, he said.

It has launched a quality health care campaign to encourage people to take responsibility for their own health.

- SAPA