Pretoria - Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Ntombi Mekgwe will be at the forefront of a TB awareness campaign as South Africa commemorates World TB Day in Orange Farm on Thursday, 24 March.
Under the theme On the move to kick TB out, the event aims to raise awareness about the burden of TB.
During the month-long campaign, the department is educating communities on how to recognise the signs of symptoms of the disease, importance of testing, availability of treatment and promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Thursdays' event will include a door-to-door campaign on health education, TB contact and defaulter tracing.
In addition to TB awareness, other services which will be available include HIV counseling and testing, screenings for chronic diseases as well as pap smears, which help to detect cervical cancer.
The Ekurhuleni Municipality is also doing its bit for World TB Day.
The municipality's health promotion soldiers and community development workers have already started with a door-to-door outreach campaign in various communities, also focusing on treatment defaulters with the aim of encouraging them to return to their clinics for a screening and to resume treatment.
Awareness drives will also take place at three crucial community meetings at the Kwa-Thema Civic Centre on 30 March, D H Williams Hall in Katlehong and Sam Hlalele Hall in Tembisa on 31 March.
At the TB imbizo, the municipality will share information on the progress made in treating TB since last year, and residents' concerns on the TB programme will be noted.
