Yes! We Can End TB: Western Cape ramps up fight against tuberculosis

As the world continues to grapple with public health challenges, World TB Day (24 March) is a critical reminder that tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the globe’s most persistent and deadly infectious diseases. This year’s theme, Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver, is a powerful rallying cry and a bold call for hope, urgency, and accountability. Government, non-profit and non-governmental organisations, and community members must work together to address TB head-on - especially now, when healthcare systems, healthcare budgets, and economies worldwide are under pressure. 

In the Western Cape, TB has been the leading cause of death for more than a decade. But thanks to effective vaccines, testing, and treatments available at our public healthcare facilities, we can prevent and cure this disease. However, success depends on adequate investment and a sustained commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care. 

The Western Cape TB Recovery Plan (2024–2028) has been developed in line with the National TB Strategy and will guide the province’s efforts. It highlights TB as a priority, aims to improve active case finding, supports clients on their treatment journey, focuses on prevention, and leverages data to strengthen healthcare service delivery.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, highlighted the critical role the provincial government plays in tackling TB across all communities. She stated, “The Western Cape TB Recovery Plan builds on our previous successes in identifying, treating, and effectively managing TB throughout the province. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we faced setbacks that slowed our progress and while we have since regained ground and re-engaged many patients in care, our ultimate goal remains clear: to reduce TB incidence by 90% and TB mortality by 95% by 2035. Achieving this requires us to not only work harder but also smarter—using data and information to direct our efforts, target the social and operational drivers of TB, and support early detection, diagnosis, and seamless patient care. Our approach in the Western Cape is tailored to the unique needs of each community, allowing us, along with civil society, NGOs, and all stakeholders, to exponentially increase our impact and turn the tide on this epidemic.”

A pivotal step in reaching this goal has been the introduction of TUTT (Test, Understand, Treat and Trace) in 2024, recommended by the National Department of Health. Under TUTT, anyone who has been in close contact with someone diagnosed with TB is tested, regardless of symptoms. This proactive approach has helped speed up diagnosis and treatment, ultimately saving lives. Since 2023, efforts have also expanded to include vulnerable individuals such as TB patients, their family members, and those who are immunocompromised, to ensure timely detection and preventative therapy.

Premier Alan Winde chairs the Provincial Council on AIDS and Tuberculosis. “I urge all residents living with TB to help us by taking responsibility for their treatment. Only by working with us will we be able to better manage this disease,” the Premier stressed. He added, “We face significant pressures in healthcare. But we have proven in the past that through our whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, we can overcome challenges. This World TB Day, let us recommit to our combined efforts to beat TB.” 

While progress has been made, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness remains deeply concerned about the lives still lost to TB-related complications. Between 2019 and 2023, 181 157 patients started TB treatment, with a 77.9% treatment success rate as of March 2023. The success rate for multidrug-resistant TB is currently at 52%, while the TB death rate is 3.9% for drug-sensitive TB and 13% for drug-resistant TB. The screening rate for TB in the province varies by age group, and a significant number of patients (19.3% for drug-sensitive TB and 25% for drug-resistant TB) are lost to follow-up. These statistics underscore the urgency of sustained intervention and support.

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.
• Inadequate growth in children (not gaining weight as expected).
• Malaise (an overall sense of feeling unwell or “off”, often accompanied by low energy or a vague discomfort that’s hard to pinpoint) or fever. 
• Sweating profusely at night.

Individuals can be tested for TB even if they do not have symptoms, and testing is free at all public healthcare clinics. Getting tested early, staying on treatment, and encouraging family members to do the same are vital in controlling the spread of TB.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness calls on everyone to help protect our communities by spreading awareness about TB prevention and urging those at risk to get tested.

By committing to early diagnosis, investing in resources and delivering high-quality care, we can turn the tide against TB.