TB Accountability Consortium Convening: Strengthening Accountability in South Africa’s TB Response
By: Palesa Chidi
The TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC) held its annual National Convening, a two-day event centred on strengthening accountability in South Africa’s response to tuberculosis (TB). The convening brought together advocates and healthcare professionals, highlighting the importance of patient experiences and fostering discussions that promote patient-centred care. A core objective was to propel South Africa’s TB program forward by elevating the voices and needs of those most impacted, particularly within rural communities, to drive more accessible and effective TB care.
The convening featured a series of impactful presentations, shining a light on the unique challenges faced by rural populations. Dr. Carmen Christian from the University of the Western Cape opened with her presentation, “The ‘Hidden’ Burden of TB Suffering: Understanding the Patient Perspective,” where she underscored the heightened vulnerability of rural communities to TB. “People who live in rural areas face greater vulnerability than those in urban centres due to significantly higher levels of unemployment,” she explained.
Additionally, Dr. Christian noted the vast distances and logistical barriers that rural patients must navigate to reach healthcare facilities, underscoring that TB patients in these areas face far more formidable obstacles to accessing treatment compared to those in urban settings.
Access to comprehensive and open data emerged as a crucial point at the convening. Médecins Sans Frontières’s (MSF) Camren McAravey emphasised the need for having access to TB data. “We’re asking for open access to key TB indicators in South Africa. Data can strengthen governance, democracy, and accountability.” This comes after the National Department of Health did not give TB testing data in its annual report for 2021/2022.
“Open data that anyone can freely use, modify and share for any purpose, is a public good. It enables better health system decisions. It obliges government and public service providers to be transparent and accountable.”
She argued that during the COVID-19 pandemic the department was able to produce daily infections stats, and yet fail to annually release the TB data. “It became clear during the Covid-19 pandemic that data can be made available quickly when governments see the urgency.”
Adding to the conversation on data, Zimbini Madikiza, RHAP’s Outreach and Training Coordinator, echoed the call for data transparency. “Sufficient data is needed to guide and support civil society, communities and healthcare practitioners in getting TB back on track. Rural practitioners also say that taking services to the people is important for increasing access to care: ‘That’s how we can find cases.”
Another critical issue raised was the mobility of individuals for work and their eventual return to rural areas when ill. TB in the Mining Sector in Southern Africa’s Jabu Xaba expressed deep concern over the rise of new infections and the high rates of treatment default among men in the Eastern Cape, describing it as a growing challenge that underscores the urgency of targeted interventions.
The TBAC National Convening brought to the forefront the importance of addressing the needs of rural communities, improving data accessibility, and adopting patient-centred strategies. These critical discussions mark a significant step towards a more accountable, responsive, and accessible TB response across South Africa.