Calls for TB to be declared national emergency

Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death in South Africa and civil society is calling on government to declare it a national health emergency.  

According to the World Health Organization TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.  

In last year’s Global TB Report, the World Health Organization ranked South Africa amongst the 20 countries with the highest TB burden in the world.

It’s estimated that nearly 4,000 people lose their lives to TB daily and close to 28 thousand people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.   

Civil society is calling on government to take TB treatment and detection as seriously as the COVID-19 response. 

Source: ENCA