Ad-hoc Committee on TB to be established by the end of August

Dear Editor

Following a number of engagements with various stakeholders since February 2021, we are now poised to establish a TB Caucus in the Western Cape as an ad-hoc committee by the end of August.

This will allow the legislature to further contribute towards to the fight against TB in the province – an endemic that has affected almost 23 000 people in the first half of this year and has taken the lives of around 9% of those diagnosed in this period.

During a briefing by the provincial Department of Health and Wellness on Friday, it was revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic also negatively impacted the Western Cape’s ability to diagnose patients. Between the first and fourth wave of the pandemic, the rate of diagnosing new cases decreased by 76-83% per day in comparison to those in previous years. While these rates are now recovering, we need to continue tackling this disease to protect our residents.

By forming this ad-hoc committee, it will empower the WCPP to do the following:

• Advocate for budgets to be ringfenced and reviewed to support necessary TB interventions;
• Result in legislation being evaluated and drafted to promote TB services;
• Allow for greater accountability over the public institutions that are responsible for the implementation of TB programmes; and
• Bring about more advocacy in communities with greater consulting with civil society and NGOs.

MPP Wendy Kaizer-Philander says: “In the Western Cape, we are fortunate to have a provincial government that has already pioneered in instituting various initiatives, such as the multi-sectoral Provincial TB Emergency Response Plan and the Provincial TB dashboard. These are examples of a proactive government that innovates service delivery.

It is now time for parliament to do the same and join legislatures across the world in creating holistic approaches to fight TB in our communities.”

Regards

Wendy Kaizer-Philander, MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health