TB testing rates are down by almost half and dramatically fewer patients are starting treatment. Kathryn Cleary takes an in-depth look at the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown on TB services in South Africa.
TB testing rates are down by almost half and dramatically fewer patients are starting treatment. Kathryn Cleary takes an in-depth look at the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown on TB services in South Africa
In the weeks before the lockdown, the NICD conducted an average of 47 520 TB tests per week. This dropped to an average of 24 574 tests per week during the lockdown – a 48% reduction. For drug-resistant TB , Dr Norbert Ndjeka, director of HIV, TB and DR-TB at the national department of health, said there had been a huge decrease in case-finding and treatment initiation.
Dlamini-Miti said with patients missing appointments because of police restrictions and Covid-19 fears, nurses had to inform them they should not have problems if they carry their TB treatment cards. While patients were given two months’ worth of treatment, Ndjeka said that the country would face problems with treatment should patients fail to return to clinics next month.Previously Spotlight reported on the important research being done by the DTTC, particularly on paediatric TB. However, because of the pandemic, most of the centre’s paediatric clinical trials and research were put on hold.
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