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USAID TB South Africa Project Interventions during the COVID-19 crisis

May 2020

While South Africa continues with strict lockdown measures in an attempt to curb a potential unmanageable influx of COVID-19 patients, there is much concern about the spread, diagnosis and treatment of other diseases. Due to the rapid spread and acute onset of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (coronavirus), the response here and elsewhere has been dramatic, overshadowing among others the growing tuberculosis (TB) epidemic we face. TB is South Africa’s deadliest infection, killing on average 5,000 people per month according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2019.

Applying integrated communication strategies to increase tuberculosis prevention knowledge and case identification capacities in West Coast District, Western Cape Province, South Africa

Oct 2018

The World Health Organization (2017) estimated that South Africa had 154,000 missing tuberculosis cases and urged for intensified case-finding. Educating communities, and availing information about TB services in their areas is key. To translate knowledge into action, however, it is sometimes necessary to bring services to people, particularly in low socioeconomic contexts.

Social media, mass media and health advocacy: Cross-promotion of tuberculosis information to increase diagnosis and adherence to treatment in South Africa

Oct 2018
Social media, mass media and health advocacy: Cross-promotion of tuberculosis information to increase diagnosis and adherence to treatment in South Africa

Challenges with TB diagnosis and patient adherence to treatment undermine South Africa’s efforts to achieve the 90-90-90 TB targets by 2022. Using mass media to saturate audiences with TB information, and social media to support retention in care by linking patients to health advocates in their communities shows promising results to contribute to global efforts to #BeatTB and #EndTB.

Between January and December 2017, USAID Tuberculosis South Africa Project staff gave 20 radio interviews, reaching approximately 17 million listeners. 

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