HIV/AIDS and TB Newsletter

Newsletter from the national HIV/AIDS and TB Programme, Pretoria

Number 25 15 August 2002

EDITOR'S NOTES AND STAFF NEWS

You may note that the format of the newsletter looks slightly different. This is because of the various graphs that have been included, and the fact that it will reach much better this way. We will return t the familiar format next time.

Sadly the HIV/AIDS and TB Programme "lost" 2 of its staff at the end of July: Thembela Masuku, the VCT Coordinator, and Marian Burley, the NGO Coordinator. Though we already miss them, they have worked hard at leaving systems and capacity in place to continue with the work required. We wish them well.

TUBERCULOSIS IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1998 - 2001

Tuberculosis is a curable disease, yet it continues to kill because people do not take their treatment if they are not properly supervised. It kills more youths and adults than any other infectious disease in South Africa today. These deaths can be prevented. TB treatment is available and provided free of charge.

Almost 129,000 patients of pulmonary (lung) TB were reported in 2001. 101,000 patients were infectious and therefore capable of spreading the disease to others. Of these 77 000 were New Smear Positive.

Since 1998 there was a general increase in the incidence of Tuberculosis as a result of advocacy, better case detection and as a result of increasing levels of HIV infection. The incidence in All types of Tuberculosis increased from 338 patients per 100 000 in 1998 to 362 patients per 100 000 in 2001. In the graph below, the increase per province is shown.

The Table below shows the number of all types of Tuberculosis patients reported per province and for South Africa, annually from 1998 - 2001.

The following table shows the National breakdown of Tuberculosis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis and New Smear Positive PTB from 1998 - 2001

Since 1997 the cure rate nationally has slowly improved from 56,6% in 1997 till 62,9% in 2000. The next graph shows provincial cure rates as reported for the period 1997 - 2000.

Interruption rates for the country are still far too high, but for the country there is a slow decrease from 18,6% in 1997 till 15,8% in 2000. The graph below shows the Interruption rates for the 9 provinces from 1997 - 2000.

The percentage of New Smear Positive PTB patients that died while they were on treatment increased from 6,3% in 1997 till 8,3% in 2000. The following graph shows the increase per province from 1997 - 2000.

For more information, contact the National TB Control Programme (Director: Dr. Refiloe Matji) on telephone (0120 312-0089 or matjir@health.gov.za

DIFLUCAN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

As has been reported previously in this newsletter, the Diflucan Partnership Programme was launched with the signing of a contract between Pfizer and the Minister of Health on 1 December 2000. This was the first drug donation that the Ministry accepted. One of the reasons for the successful negotiations was the agreement from Pfizer to not only offer the drug Fluconazole (Diflucan) for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis, but also to put significant funding towards the capacity building of healthcare workers in the public sector. This is through the training of healthcare workers in the management of opportunistic infections.

This programme has achieved significant success since the first site became operational in April 2001. The table below provides some details of the 37 804 prescriptions processes to date (as at the end of June 2002).

This is another example of a successful public-private partnership, and provided the template for Pfizer to expand this programme to 50 other countries in Africa and the developing world.

* Data incomplete

In addition, through IAPAC, one of the partners in the Diflucan Partnership Programme, a significant number of healthcare workers have been trained. The table below provides some details.

For more information, please contact Celicia Serenata (DOH) on serenc@health.gov.za or Lebo Taunyane (Pfizer) on lebogang.taunyane@pfizer.com or Maylene Dankers (IAPAC) on maylene@iapac.org.za

Please remember that past copies of this newsletter can be obtained from the Department of Health website under the AIDS link.

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.health.gov.za
www.aidsinfo.co.za/new
www.aidsdirectory.co.za
www.hst.org.za
www.lovelife.org.za
www.childaidsservices.org
www.equinetafrica.org
www.unaids.org

You are also encouraged to share information on other useful websites. Feedback on the Department of Health website would be especially valuable.

Compiled by Celicia M Serenata
Deputy Director: HIV/AIDS and STDs
Tel: (012) 312-0128
Fax: (012) 326-2891
e-mail: serenc@health.gov.za

Red Ribbon Resource Centre

For all requests of HIV/AIDS materials (posters etc.), please contact:
Tel: (011) 880-0405
Fax: (011) 880-8552

Address List for Chief Directorate

Fax: (012) 326-2891 or (012) 323-7323

Dr. Nono Simelela
Chief Director: HIV/AIDS and TB
Tel: (012) 312-0121
simeln@health.gov.za

Collen Bonnecwe
Director: HIV/AIDS (NGOs)
Tel: (012) 312-0137
bonnec@health.gov.za

Thami Skenjana
Director: GAAP
Tel: (012) 312-0133
Fax: (012) 325-0165

Dr. Refiloe Matji
Director: TB
Tel: (012) 312-0106
Fax: (012) 326-4365
matjir@health.gov.za

Dr. Rose Mulumba
Director: HIV/AIDS and STIs
Tel: (012) 312-0060
mulumr@health.gov.za