Issued by: Department of Health
For World TB Day 1997, the Department of Health will hold a press conference and luncheon to release a major new report:
"TB IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE PEOPLE'S PLAGUE"
Special Guests: rap artists "Peace Inc., "TB patients, treatment supporters, and others will join Health Minister N.D. Zuma to commemorate World TB Day.
South Africa is battling with one of the worst TB epidemics in the world, and is rallying to gain control of this killer disease. While the TB burden is daunting in scale, the Department of Health is putting a new internationally recognized control programme into place, known as DOTS. Come to obtain a copy of the new TB report, to learn about DOTS, and to hear of the current efforts underway to control TB in South Africa: the people's plague.
DATE: Thursday, 20 March 1997 TIME: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM LOCATION: Rosebank Hotel, Melrose Room Corner Tyrwhitt and Sturdee Avenues Rosebank, Johannesburg Tel: 011 / 447-2700 NOTE: World TB Day falls on 24 March.
If you will attend this event, please inform Ms. Courtenay Singer at tel: 012 312-0100, cell 082 858-0197, or fax this from to her at 012 323-8626.
Yes, I plan to attend the World TB Day News Conference, Thursday 20 March 1997
Name: Title: Organization: Address: Tel: Fax:
DRAFT PROGRAMME WORLD TB DAY PRESS CONFERENCE
20 March 1997, 11:00am - 12:30 pm Rosebank Hotel, Melrose Room, Johannesburg
10:45 - 11:00 Press Registration. Tea and coffee will be served.
Chairperson: Dr Olive Shisana, Director-General of Health
Speakers: 11:00 - 11:10 Dr N.D Zuma, Minister of Health Official Release of "TB in South Africa: the People's Plague" 11:00 - 11:15 TB Patient cured by DOTS Personal account of a TB sufferer 11:15 - 11:20 TB Treatment Supporter The rewards of curing someone of TB 11:20 - 11:25 Peace Inc performs "TB Check" rap song 11:25 - 11:30 Dr Refiloe Matji, National Department of Health DOTS: Where are we now? 11:30 - 11:35 Mr Hylton Smith, South African National TB Association (SANTA) SANTA as a Partner in the Battle Against TB 11:35 - 11:40 Bernard Fourie, Medical Research Council Trends in the TB Epidemic 11:40 - 12:00 Journalists' questions 12:00 - 12:30 Luncheon
Note: World TB Day falls on 24 March 1997
Journalists requiring any further information should contact Ms Courtenay Singer, Technical Advisor, Department of Health, tel: 012/312-0100, cell: 082/858-0197, or fax: 012/323-8626
March 17 1997