Self-screening app to help fight TB in W Cape

A SELF-SCREENING app and joint testing for Covid-19 and tuberculosis are among the updated responses to fighting TB in the province.

The Provincial Council of Aids and Tuberculosis (PCAT) met at the end of last week to discuss the progress of the Western Cape Multi-Sectoral Emergency Response Plan to TB, launched in April.

Premier Alan Winde said data shows that the percentage of all patients started on TB treatment is 92%; the TB treatment success rate is currently 79%; the rate of successfully treating patients with multidrug-resistant TB is 60%; the TB death rate is 3%; the Western Cape's TB screening rate for children five years and older presenting with symptoms is 59%; the Western Cape's TB screening rate for children below five years presenting with symptoms is 71%; and the rate of TB patients lost to follow up is 18%.

The updated response plan includes a self-screening app and joint testing for Covid-19 and TB; a public-facing dashboard to keep people up to date with the latest statistics; a digital X-ray pilot that makes use of mobile X-ray units and enhancing advocacy for socio-economic improvements.

“A person's socio-economic circumstances plays a huge role in their susceptibility to TB.

“This is why the response plan is also conducting enhanced advocacy for socio-economic improvements, including psycho-social and nutritional support interventions, for those living with TB.

“There are currently 878 TB patients in the Metro who are receiving nutritional food packages to support them in completing their treatment,” Winde added.