Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, requiring continuous attention and intervention. On the eve of World TB Day (24 March), the Portfolio Committee on Health and Wellness in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature reaffirms its commitment to keeping TB a top priority in its oversight work. The committee supports ongoing efforts by the Department of Health to eliminate TB and calls for accelerated action to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy, which aims to reduce TB deaths by 95% and TB cases by 90% by 2035.
Through its oversight visits to health facilities, the committee has been actively monitoring TB screening programmes and treatment success rates—key performance indicators in tracking progress. This ensures that Gauteng’s TB response aligns not only with national and global commitments but also with the 2022 Gauteng Provincial TB Caucus Declaration, which advocates for stronger resource allocation and accelerated efforts to end TB. The committee remains committed to holding health authorities accountable for the effective implementation of TB control measures, including early diagnosis, treatment adherence, and public awareness initiatives.
“With the theme’s call to action, ‘Yes! You and I Can End TB,’ the committee urges Gauteng residents to take responsibility for their health by seeking medical attention at the first sign of symptoms and completing their prescribed TB treatment. Ending TB requires a collective effort from all sectors, including communities, to eliminate the disease and improve public health outcomes,” concluded Adv. Ezra Letsoalo, Chairperson of the Health and Wellness Portfolio Committee.
INFO SUPPLIED.
