Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was speaking in Cape Town during the Parliamentary Media Briefing Week, which started today.
"The number of TB cases is steadily increasing and the problem is exacerbated by the development of Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB)," she said.
MDR-TB is caused by partial treatment, when patients do not take their medication regularly for the required period.
She said the multi-drug resistant TB had a higher risk of transmission than the ordinary form of pulmonary disease and was very costly to treat.
"This year, the emphasis, in line with international developments, will be on developing partnerships around TB and managing the TB/HIV link more effectively," said the minister.
TB is a leading killer in people living with HIV/Aids. Up to 50% of people living with the disease in sub-Saharan Africa develop TB.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang also noted Cholera and Malaria as high priority areas for the department.
"The current drought affecting many parts of the country is posing some health challenges," she said.
This was true particularly with the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera, which shift vector-borne diseases such as malaria to new areas, she said.
"We have been able to contain some few cases of cholera that have been reported over the past year and we are also ensuring epidemic preparedness and response in all districts," said the minister.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang said the fight against malaria in the Southern African Development Community was gaining momentum and had been boosted by allocations of resources from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria.
The allocation was made to the Lebombo Spatial Development Initiative.
"Except for some increase in malaria cases in Limpopo in October last year, good progress is being made on this front," said the minister. –BuaNews.
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