An estimated 156k TB -infected people at large, says Mabuza
Deputy President David Mabuza says there are more than 156 000 people, who are infected with TB, who have not received treatment.
Mabuza was delivering the keynote address at the commemoration of World TB Day in Mbombela on Wednesday.
The World Health Organisation published a report last year which showed a 20% increase in TB infections in South Africa in 2019.
The report said at least 58 000 people died from TB in the same year.
Mabuza said in 2018, a total of 390 000 people were infected.
Government managed to reach 60% of them.
"This suggests that there is still a large number of them that are at large, they are infected and continue to infect others out there undetected," he said.
He added that South Africa underestimated the prevalence of TB and failed to meet its targets.
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"Our national strategic plan on HIV, TB and STI's that was launched in 2017 remains even today our guiding implementation blueprint. In terms of this plan, we had targeted to diagnose at least 90% of all people infected with TB, we had also committed to treating 100% of those who have tested positive and decrease TB deaths by at least 30%.
"This year the plan is nearing the finishing line and yet the numbers in terms of targets that we had set for ourselves remain stubbornly high," said Mabuza.
Mabuza said through the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), South Africa has committed to the global call to fast-track TB treatment, especially in the context of Covid-19, which has threatened the fight against the disease.
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