Tuberculosis in South Africa (5)
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Dear Dieter,
Thank you for your article on TB in SA, dated 16/4/97. The South African
picture probably reflects the situation in the entire region. We are all
aware of the fact, that DOTS is currently the most promising but not
unproblematic way to limit the spread of TB and to achieve high cure rates.
In addition, TB programmes and their allies, e.g. like SANTA in South
Africa or NAMTA in Namibia, need to strengthen their efforts in advocacy
and need to work toward broad political commitment within each country and
in the region as a whole.
The health sector alone is not in a position to successfully curb the
epidemic. In order to tackle the underlying causes such as poor housing,
unemployment and poverty, other sectors within and outside Government must
act as partners in an expanded response to the problem, each of the sectors
being commissioned and committed to contribute. In the regional context
SATCI (the Southern Africa Tuberculosis Control Initiative) can play a
facilitating role and is in fact doing that already.
Regards,
Michael
Michael Rabbow
Windhoek, Namibia
mailto:namtci@is.com.na
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