{"id":239893,"date":"2020-04-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/239893\/lerato-clinic-urges-patients-to-take-their-treatment\/"},"modified":"2020-04-02T14:59:16","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T12:59:16","slug":"lerato-clinic-urges-patients-to-take-their-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2020\/04\/02\/lerato-clinic-urges-patients-to-take-their-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Lerato Clinic urges patients to take their treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

March is TB Awareness Month and on March 24 we commemorated World Tuberculosis Day.<\/p>\n

This day is about raising awareness of the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.<\/p>

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Even though TB can be cured, it remains the world\u2019s deadliest infectious killer.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme is \u201cIt\u2019s Time\u201d.<\/p>

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The focus this year is on urgently accelerating the TB response to save lives and end suffering.<\/p>\n

The GCN visited Bertha Gxowa Hospital\u2019s Lerato Clinic to talk about the work they do at the clinic and about the challenges of TB.<\/p>\n

Dr Nommso Stubbs, HIV\/Aids, STI, TB (HAST) medical officer, said that people need to know TB is curable.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can beat TB if you take your treatment right and make sure you finish the treatment course,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

She said we can all be carriers of TB but not get sick from it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be infected and never get sick.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething might trigger it and develop active tuberculosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means you can carry the bacteria in your body without ever showing or experiencing symptoms of the disease,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

She added that she has treated a number of TB patients with different types of TB.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Watch: Dr Manning, Bertha Gxowa CEO speaks on the hospital\u2019s precautionary measures in place in response to Covid-19<\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cYou can also get TB in other parts of the body, like the brain, kidneys and spine, causing serious damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s important to attend your treatment when you are diagnosed with TB and not wait until it is too late.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you see signs or suspect you have TB, please visit your nearest clinic,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

She stressed the importance of people looking after themselves and others when they have TB.<\/p>\n

\u201cTB is contagious and it is spread through expelled droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can contract TB by breathing in these particles.<\/p>\n

\u201cDroplets can be active for up to 48 hours if a room does not get fresh air,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

She said if you are living with someone with TB, you also need to look after yourself.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving in the same home as an infected person does put you in danger.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to protect yourself and there is medication we give to patients living with someone with TB to protect them from getting it,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

The Lerato Clinic tries by all means to spread the word to patients about the importance of getting tested and taking their treatment.<\/p>\n

Wanga Siditsha, TB focal nurse, said as soon as patients walk into the clinic they ensure that they educate them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always educate our patients and tell them about the steps we are going to take, from testing and getting the results to treatment, to ensure that all their questions are answered,\u201d said Siditsha.<\/p>\n

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The friendly staff of Bertha Gxowa Hospital\u2019s Lerato Clinic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She said that it\u2019s not always easy because some patients will not share the correct information or collect their results.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest challenge is defaulting patients because they are making things difficult for themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t finish your treatment, the TB comes back stronger and turns into drug-resistant TB (DR TB).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis becomes dangerous because now we cannot give the patient the same treatment, we must start a new treatment that can take longer,\u201d said Siditsha.<\/p>\n

HAST area manager Lindiwe Nkopo added they have challenges with false information.<\/p>\n

She said it makes it difficult to follow the progress of the patient.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome patients come in, get tested and do not come back for the results, only to find that they have TB.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you call you find that the number is wrong and even the address.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot even track them down and now they are out there spreading TB,\u201d said Nkopo.<\/p>\n

She urged patients to be honest because it\u2019s for their own good.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you share false information you are not helping anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to help you, so please, we urge patients to share correct information,\u201d said Nkopo.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Stubbs stressed the financial implications involved in treating TB.<\/p>\n

\u201cTB treatment is expensive and government is making sure it provides for those who cannot afford to pay for treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut sadly, people are misusing the funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start treatment and do not finish it and default you just wasted money.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now more money will be spent because we have to give you treatment for a drug-resistant TB (DR TB).<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we urge people to be responsible and not waste resources,\u201d said Stubbs.<\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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