There is no shame in having TB and let’s remember that it is curable

AS HUMAN beings we always run the risk of contracting one disease or another. This is especially so with infectious diseases.

“If you breathe you can get tuberculosis and the only way to prevent this is to stop breathing.” This is what Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi often tells us. This is especially true in South Africa, which has particularly high levels of tuberculosis (TB).

We commemorate World TB Day today. We seek to redouble our efforts as a country to fight this disease as we are experiencing a high number of deaths from TB related illnesses. In fact, TB has now overtaken HIV as the highest cause of death among South Africans.

This does not mean that we need to be fatalistic or complacent. As we commemorate World TB Day on March 24, we must rededicate ourselves to doing everything possible to prevent the transmission of TB.

This means that each of us needs to take responsibility for getting tested if we have any of the symptoms of the disease, and, if diagnosed with TB, get treatment, complete treatment, and ensure that we are cured. We must also ensure that we take precautions not to infect others. This is important for each of us, for our families, our work colleagues and for society at large.

We have made some progress in dealing with the twin epidemics of TB and HIV over the past six years. The statistician-general reports that deaths from TB are coming down. The minister of health tells us that the number of people who are cured of TB is increasing. These are very encouraging. But we need to do more. Tuberculosis is still the biggest killer in our country and we still have large numbers of people who have it.

There is no shame in being diagnosed with TB, as anyone who breathes can contract the disease. Both former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu had TB, received treatment and lived healthy lives. What is a concern is that many people wait until they are very ill before they seek health care. I call on all South Africans to be aware of the symptoms of TB and urgently seek care if you have the symptoms.

These symptoms can include a fever, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats or a persistent cough. Diagnosis and treatment for TB is free at all public health facilities.

We must remember that TB is curable. We have the medicines and skilled health professionals to ensure that people with TB are correctly diagnosed and treated. It is in all of our interest to get treated and get cured.

Civil society organisations have an important role to play in our quest to eliminate TB as a public health threat. Religious institutions such as churches, mosques, temples and synagogues can include messages about TB, including their symptoms, in their sermons. Indeed, these religious institutions can also provide services such as TB screening and HIV testing to their congregations as well as to communities that live close by.

The government will support such initiatives by assisting to make these health services available. Employers too have a role to play. Whether small, medium or large, employers can provide information on TB and HIV to their employees and provide screening and testing services as well.

Again, the government is ready to provide support to these initiatives and ensure that employees who are in need of health services, but can’t afford them, will receive these services in public facilities.

Likewise, organised labour can also play a role in a number of ways, urging their members to take care of their health and use health services, whether they are provided by the employer or those in the public health sector. Employers and their employees should work hand in hand to ensure that workplaces promote health and wellbeing.

We can defeat the TB bacteria. We have the political commitment, the diagnostic tools and the medicines. What we need is a national movement that is single minded and focused.

Working together – civil society, religious institutions, business, organised labour and government – we can beat this disease. As we mark World TB Day 2017, we must commit ourselves to doing everything that we can to defeat TB and its twin, HIV.

Ramaphosa is the deputy president.