Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
17 March 1997
The fight against tuberculosis has been declared the top health priority for the coming year by the national Department of Health. World TB Day on March 24 represents an opportunity to highlight this commitment.
Most people with tuberculosis can be successfully treated without hospitalisation through a clinic-based programme of directly observed treatment (DOT). We realise that journalists often have problems in accessing clinics, so we are organising a visit to several Katlehong Clinics on Wednesday morning.
The idea is to provide an opportunity for you to see some TB clinics in operation, to talk to staff, patients and "supporters" who help motivate patients through the six-month course of treatment.
The visit is intended to complement the National Department of Health's media conference on march 20, in the run-up to World TB Day on March 24.
If you are interested please let us know by lunchtime tomorrow, March 18. Contact persons are: Joe Kelly 355 3211 Desiree Monareng 355 3210 Jennifer Matholeni 355 3208
Released by the Directorate for Health Promotion & Communication