TB screening to be done in prison

 

All inmates entering correctional services facilities will in future be screened for tuberculosis, the SABC reported on Sunday.

 

 

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said correctional facilities have been identified as among the places where TB is prevalent.

 

"Early diagnosis means early enrolment onto treatment programmes and a reduction in chances of infecting others, thus significantly improving the overall performance of our TB control," said Motsoaledi.

 

South Africa's correctional facilities were said to be the worst affected in the African continent.

 

Motsoaledi donated state of the art GeneXpert machines to correctional facilities that can diagnose TB within a period of two hours.

 

- Sapa