OPINION: A new African HIV Control Working Group to propel African voices in the global HIV response

By Yogan Pillay and Izukanji Sikazwe, August 22, 2023

Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Latest, TB

It is estimated that over 65% of the global HIV burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, in an attempt to propel African voices and perspectives in the next phase of the HIV response in Africa, a group of Africans established an African-led HIV control working group (HCWG). They are all experts from the continent who have come together to develop consensus perspectives on the long-term sustained control of HIV and prioritise the systems and capabilities to achieve it. Drs Yogan Pillay and Izukanji Sikazwe explain the thinking behind the new working group and set out their objectives.

OPINION: A new African HIV Control Working Group to propel African voices in the global HIV response

TB contact tracing helps save lives – this is how it works in SA

By Tiyese Jeranji, August 16, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare Workers, Latest, TB, TB

Tracing the close contacts of people ill with tuberculosis (TB) and offering them TB preventive therapy is part of South Africa’s strategy to fight TB. A recent analysis found that such an approach of tracing household contacts and providing them with TB preventive treatment is cost-effective and would – by 2025 – cut deaths by 35% among household contacts of all ages and people living with HIV. In light of these new findings, Tiyese Jeranji assesses the state of contact tracing in South Africa’s public healthcare system.

Tags: community healthcare workers Department of Health DHIS Dr Norbert Ndjeka featured public health facilities Right to Care TB TB contact tracing TB prevention TB preventive therapy TB response TB transmission the Tuberculosis Platform at the South Africa Medical Research Council Unitaid World Health Organization

TB contact tracing helps save lives – this is how it works in SA

Funding secured for massive TB vaccine trial

By Marcus Low, June 29, 2023

Posted in: Latest, TB, TB

A massive and much-anticipated phase 3 trial of an experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine is set to proceed after funding for it has been secured from two large philanthropies. If the trial’s findings are positive, the vaccine is likely to become the first new TB vaccine in over a hundred years to be widely used. Marcus Low reports.

Tags: BCG vaccine Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation featured M72 M72/AS01E pulmonary TB disease TB clinical trial TB infection Treatment Action Group Wellcome Trust

Funding secured for massive TB vaccine trial

In-depth: Why is the Northern Cape missing its TB targets?

By Refilwe Mochoari, June 20, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, Northern Cape, TB, TB

In March this year, the director-general of the Northern Cape government, Justice Bekebeke during a parliamentary oversight visit acknowledged that about 80% of the health facilities in the province did not meet their performance targets of finding people with tuberculosis and helping them complete treatment. Refilwe Mochoari looked at the statistics and spoke to several roleplayers about why the province is missing its TB targets.

Tags: active TB Case-finding featured Kathu Mining Northern Cape Northern Cape Department of Health occupational TB TB screening TB targets tuberculosis

In-depth: Why is the Northern Cape missing its TB targets?

Hospital histories: 151 years later, the drumming of little feet at Brooklyn Chest Hospital

By Biénne Huisman, June 14, 2023

Posted in: Child health, Healthcare system, Latest, TB, TB

In 1984, the then-head of Brooklyn Chest TB Hospital, Dr David Jenkin lamented inadequate services for TB patients, writing that “it is unflattering to realize that only war and pestilence appear able to bring more beds for TB sufferers”. Almost 40 years later, despite major scientific advances, TB hospitals like Brooklyn Chest remain important for treating complicated forms of the disease, where specialised healthcare staff can monitor medication interactions and side-effects. Biénne Huisman takes a look back at the hospital’s 151-year history and the difference it is making in the lives of children with TB today.

Tags: Brooklyn Chest Hospital featured infectious diseases lung health MDR-TB paediatric ICU paediatrics public sector facilities TB hospitals TB meningitis TB Research tuberculosis Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness

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Hospital histories: 151 years later, the drumming of little feet at Brooklyn Chest Hospital

Community-based testing boosts diagnosis of infectious TB, study finds

By Tiyese Jeranji, June 13, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, TB, TB

Every year, tens of thousands of people who fall ill with tuberculosis in South Africa are not diagnosed. Because of this, there has been much focus on testing people earlier rather than waiting for them to show up at clinics when they are already sick. One potential solution, explored in a trial called XACT 2, is community-based testing using a point-of-care molecular test. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to experts involved with XACT 2 and unpacks the study’s findings that were recently published in Nature Medicine.

Tags: active case finding active TB Brooklyn Chest Hospital featured GeneXpert GeneXpert Edge lung health Mobile X-ray units National TB Prevalence Survey Prof Keertan Dheda Right to CareB smear microscopy TB testing tuberculosis TUT XACT III XACT model

Community-based testing boosts diagnosis of infectious TB, study finds

The complex interplay between TB and liver problems

By Tiyese Jeranji, June 2, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare system, Latest, TB, TB

People in South Africa who fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) often also have other health issues. HIV, which drives much of the TB epidemic in South Africa, is the most obvious co-infection, but people who fall ill with TB are also more likely to have diabetes and mental health problems than the general public. Tiyese Jeranji spoke to local experts about the interesting links between TB and liver problems.

Tags: and STIs antiretroviral medicines Department of Health drug-induced rasg drug-susceptible tuberculosis drugs featured HCV hepatitis B National Guidelines for the Management of Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV TB TB and the liver TB prevalence TB Proof TB screening tuberculosis tuberculosis medicine viral hepatitis

The complex interplay between TB and liver problems

OPINION: The promise of a financial boost for TB programmes – where to from here?

By Sihle Mahonga Ndawonde, April 20, 2023

Posted in: Latest, TB, TB

South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs 2023-2028 and the country’s TB Recovery Plan necessitate a sharp increase in TB testing and increased enrolment into care, which will require additional spending on testing and medicines. Sihle Mahonga Ndawonde argues that a joint committee should be set up to review and interrogate provincial departments’ resource allocation decisions for the next three years.

Tags: budget votes COVID-19 Department of Health featured Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana health budget National Strategic Plan for HIV National TB Programme National TB recovery plan national treasury Parliament TB TB Accountability Consortium TB and STIs 2023-2028 TB services TB tests TBAC World TB Day 2023

OPINION: The promise of a financial boost for TB programmes – where to from here?

Opinion: Shorter treatment regimens for TB offer hope, but await implementation

By Yuri F. van der Heijden, Violet Chihota, and Salome Charalambous, March 31, 2023

Posted in: Latest, TB, TB

Almost two years ago, a study found that a breakthrough four-month treatment regimen for tuberculosis is as effective as the current six-month regimen. The time is now to join together for the thoughtful implementation of this new regimen, argue Yuri F. van der Heijden, Violet Chihota, and Salome Charalambous.

Tags: drug-resistant tuberculosis featured health budgets TB programme TB Treatment World TB Day 2023

Opinion: Shorter treatment regimens for TB offer hope, but await implementation

In-Depth: Mostly positive responses to SA’s new HIV, TB and STI plan

By Nthusang Lefafa, March 28, 2023

Posted in: Edition 12: SA’s AIDS & TB response, Edition 8: NSP in general, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Mental Health, NSP and SANAC, TB, TB

South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (2023 – 2028) was launched on Friday at Tlhabane Stadium in Rustenburg, North West as the world commemorated World TB Day. Nthusang Lefafa attended the event and spoke to experts and activists about the state of TB and HIV and the work that lies ahead with the new NSP.

Tags: AHRI Dr Joe Phaahla featured HIV HIV programme key populations mental health National Policy Framework for Mental Health National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV Paul Mashatile psycho-social support South African Federation for Mental Health South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)Stigma TB TB and STIs TB and STIs 2023-2028 TB diagnostics TB preventive therapy TB Proof TB response TBAC

In-Depth: Mostly positive responses to SA’s new HIV, TB and STI plan

OPINION: We need more dedicated investment to address TB in children

By Dr Sipho Nyathi, March 27, 2023

Posted in: Latest, TB, TB

Despite advances in paediatric TB care, substantial challenges remain. If we are to heed the call for this year’s World TB Day – ‘Yes! We can end TB’ – we will need to significantly ramp up dedicated investment for an integrated approach to addressing TB in children, argues Dr Sipho Nyathi.

Tags: BCG vaccine Child-friendly TB formulations featured paediatric TB Paediatric TB treatment guidelines.Qinisela Paediatric TB project sputum TB TB budgets TB diagnostics TB elimination strategies TB prevention TB response TB Treatment WHO World TB Day 2023

OPINION: We need more dedicated investment to address TB in children

Face to face: Prof Muki Shey on his journey from Cameroon to doing cutting-edge TB research

By Biénne Huisman, March 24, 2023

Posted in: Healthcare Workers, Latest, TB, TB

On 9 March, Professor Muki Shey received a silver award from the South African Medical Research Council for his “outstanding contribution to health research”. Shey is spearheading research into TB in healthcare workers from around Cape Town, scanning for those who over at least five years of high exposure to the disease at hospitals or clinics have never been infected. Biénne Huisman spoke to him about his journey from the North West of Cameroon to a lab at UCT and the value of ploughing back to help develop the next generation.

Tags: Aurum Institute BCG vaccine Bongani Mayosi Brooklyn Chest Hospital Cameroon drug-resistant tuberculosis featured Groote Schuur Hospital healthcare workers Prof Muki Shey SAMRC TB patients TB Research tuberculosis infection World TB Day 2023