The Western Cape government has launched a new Tuberculosis (TB) dashboard which will assist in monitoring the implementation of the province’s multi-sectoral TB response plan.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde who launched the initiative on Monday, September 20, indicated that the TTB response plan was formed and approved by the Provincial Council on Aids and TB (PCAT), which he chair, to address the serious impact that COVID-19 has had on TB-related testing, diagnosis and treatment in the province.
” This follows my commitment in my State of the Province Address that we must treat the TB epidemic with the same seriousness as we have in the fight against COVID-19. I also pledged to use the lessons learnt from our agile COVID-19 response in the fight against TB. The provision of up-to-date public data that enables behaviour change and monitors the success of government interventions is a key part of this,” Winde said.
Winde, also added that the TB response plan, through the use of this interactive TB dashboard, also aims to get the province’s TB response back on track, promote transparency and digitise responses.
” TB has long been an epidemic in the Western Cape and the dashboard will assist us in collating real-time data to respond effectively,” Winde reiterated.
[WATCH] The Western Cape Government has launched a first-of-its kind public facing TB dashboard. Here’s a quick run-through on how to use the dashboard. pic.twitter.com/WaugNSZD5V
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) September 20, 2021
In the meantime residents that have been in close contact, possibly at home, work or school, with somebody who was diagnosed with TB disease, are at increased risk of becoming infected and ill themselves, as TB is spread through the air like COVID-19.
The most common symptoms of TB include:
- A persistent or unexplained cough
- Bloody sputum or phlegm
- Pain in your chest when coughing or breathing
- Weight loss and/or loss of appetite. Or inadequate growth in children (not gaining weight as expected)
- Malaise or fever
- Sweating profusely at night
- TB disease can affect any part of the body, so please ask your healthcare worker to consider it if you have any unexplained health symptoms or problems
Also read:
WC COVID-19 update: Latest deaths reported not linked to vaccine
Picture: Cape{town}etc gallery
