October 6, 2006
Doctors Call On Dr Tshabala-Msimang To Protect Both Public And Health Professionals In Xdr-Tb Outbreak

EMBARGO: Immediate Release
Enquiries: Dr Tseliso Nkuebe
Date: 6 October 2006
Mobile: +27844132638

The outbreak of XDR-TB in various provinces of South Africa demands bold action by Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang to serve the best interest of both patients and health professionals. Doctors for Life International, representing more than 1200 medical doctors, specialists and dentists, strongly urges the Minister to decisively manage this threat which has the potential to infect large numbers of doctors and nurses.

DFL was shocked to learn that the Minister admitted at a Media Briefing that she “had initially not been informed of the new virulent form of TB by the relevant officials” and “she had learnt about the new strain via the media”. This is simply not acceptable. Health professionals in SA are over-burdened due of the AIDS pandemic and needs the highest health official in the country to consider their interests in this matter. (Minutes of Media Briefing attached for reader’s convenience)

Appropriate action would include temporary (prefabricated) isolation wards, proper ventilation in wards to reduce cross-infection and allowing international health agencies like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to investigate the nature and extend of the disease which certainly will not be unique or confined to South Africa. In principle DFL also supports the seven point emergency plan suggested by WHO, the CDC and the Medical Research Council (MRC) to Dr Tshabalala-Msimang. These are:
• Conduct rapid surveys of XDR-TB
• Enhance laboratory capacity
• Improve technical capacity of clinical and public health managers to effectively respond to XDR-TB outbreaks
• Implement infection control precautions
• Increase research support for anti-TB drug development
• Increase research support for rapid diagnostic test development
• Promote universal access to ARV’s under joint TB/HIV activities

A slow or inappropriate response from Dr Tshabalala-Msimang to the XDR-TB crisis will certainly be judged critically by both health professionals and the public. This outbreak of XDR-TB should be handled in a bold, professional/ scientific manner…this does not include secrecy or inaction.
DFL, an association of more than 1000 medical doctors and specialists across South Africa and the globe, remains committed to the holistic health of all South Africans. DFL’s activities include HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, as well as home based care of terminal AIDS patients in rural communities.

For more information visit:
www.doctorsforlifeinternational.com
www.pmg.org.za/docs/2006/060926socialcluster.pdf (for the Health Minister’s speech )
www.pmg.org.za/briefings/briefings.php?id=304 ( Minutes of Media Briefing)

'Doctors for Life International' represents more than 1400 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. DFL was founded as a South African organization in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.