South Africa launches digital platform to combat tuberculosis

The South African Department of Health has unveiled a national digital platform to monitor tuberculosis testing. The system was introduced by the country’s Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, according to Prensa Latina, a partner of TV BRICS.

The platform has been designed to collect data on tuberculosis testing across all regions of the country. The information is updated in near real-time and takes into account the user’s age, gender and place of residence.

The project was developed jointly by the Department of Health, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). According to officials, the platform will help the government move closer to its goal of reducing tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates by 2035.

During the launch, the Health Minister pointed to one of the factors contributing to the spread of the disease in South Africa, linking a number of cases to employment in the gold mining industry in past decades.

In addition, data from previous health campaigns revealed gender disparities in testing coverage. During HIV screening programmes, 65 per cent of those tested were women, compared with just 30 per cent of men.

The Department of Health also announced that research into developing a tuberculosis vaccine is ongoing. Clinical trials are expected to be completed within the next three years.

Photo: Eakkalak Khiwsuwannasri / iStock