The ANC commends the initiative of the North West ANC government to decentralise the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, MDR TB. The move to make MDR TB expertise available at various provincial hospitals has resulted in the province recording a significant drop in the number of deaths due to TB.
The province is now experiencing a drop in TB-related deaths from 8,2% in 2009 to 7,3% in 2011, and an increase in healing TB patients. The cure rate has improved from 40% in 2008 to 67% in 2011, which is a greater than 25% increase in healing TB patients.
Moreover, these positive results also include the achievements in rural hospitals like the Taung Hospital in the rural Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, which successfully cured its first MDR TB patient, Selina Kuska, 24 months after the much needed expertise was made available at various provincial hospitals. Although there has been a decrease in TB deaths in the province, the late reporting of patients to health facilities and patients who continue to defer treatment remain a concern.
The ANC welcomes the achievements in improving access to health care for all, especially for people in rural areas. The ANC urges all members of society to become actively involved in efforts to improve the wellbeing of our people, so as to ensure better health outcomes. Thank you. [Applause.]