Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lerato Mutsila
Published on 2024-03-22 15:57:21
The scorching heat did not deter hundreds of TB activists and supporters from gathering at the Heartfelt Arena on March 20th to march to the National Department of Health in Tshwane. Despite tuberculosis being a treatable disease, data from the World Health Organization revealed that 54,200 people died from TB in South Africa in 2022, equating to one death every 10 minutes. This alarming statistic prompted the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the TB Accountability Consortium to organize a march demanding that the government declare TB a national health crisis and prioritize treatment for this preventable disease.
Carrying a memorandum, the crowd made their way from the Heartfelt Arena to the Department of Health’s head offices to urge the government to roll out its TB Recovery Plan nationwide. At the Department of Health’s gates, health activist Russel Rensburg from the Rural Health Advocacy Campaign expressed solidarity with the cause, emphasizing the urgency of ending TB-related deaths.
TAC Secretary General Anele Yawa highlighted the importance of TB Awareness Month and the ongoing challenges faced by those contracting and dying from TB due to budget cuts on HIV and TB services. Yawa also mentioned the obstacles posed by patent laws that hinder the rollout of more effective and affordable TB treatment options.
Sihle Mahonga Ndawonde of the TB Accountability Consortium raised concerns about budget cuts affecting TB services and emphasized the importance of maintaining funding to prevent unnecessary deaths. The failures of the Department of Health were also highlighted, pointing to the need for increased accountability and access to health services.
TB survivor and TAC activist Victor Mtshali shed light on the socio-economic struggles faced by TB patients, including food insecurity affecting treatment adherence. Mtshali emphasized the need for holistic support alongside prioritizing TB treatment.
During the march, the activists engaged in singing, dancing, and giving speeches outside the Department of Health, where they called for urgent action and accountability from the government. Acting Deputy Director General Ramphelane Morewane eventually came out to receive the memorandum, promising a response within seven to 14 days.
The memorandum outlined demands for the government to safeguard TB funding, improve decision-making processes, and strengthen political will to address TB effectively. Morewane assured the activists of continued collaboration with civil society to address their needs effectively.
Looking towards the future, activists like Russel Rensburg emphasized the importance of making TB a political priority and progressively realizing the right to healthcare for all. The march aimed to underscore the constitutional obligation to prioritize healthcare access for those with the least resources.
In conclusion, the march on Human Rights Day sought to reiterate the urgency of addressing TB as a public health crisis and ensuring that the government honors its commitment to improving healthcare access for all South Africans.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
