1. Hon. Members, the WHO is targeting 2035 for the eradication of TB.
2. As much we acknowledge the report by the Hon. MEC, in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 is also communicable and exacerbates TB spread and deaths of TB patients. The Department of Health has a tall order to accomplish complete eradication by 2030 given the ongoing protests, looting, burning of essential services and stresses placed on our already weakened health system.
3. This investment must be equal to the challenge for new diagnostic tests, drugs and the vaccine to prevent it.
4. A while back the Minority Front debated in a Human Settlements Budget, the dire need for housing all out citizens as a major strategy to prevent communicable diseases like TB which spreads due to congested living.
5. This pandemic period is opportune to strengthen awareness campaigns of TB because people are now paying attention to disease signs, symptoms and treatment.
6. We must look to the Cuban TB eradication strategy, the success of which is based on political commitment, funding, planning stewardship and essential services of high quality addressing the most vulnerable and hard to reach groups and ensuring continued surveillance, programme monitoring and evaluation and case-based data management.
7. The Minority Front supports this TB report.
8. Thank you

Hon. S. Thakur-Rajbansi
MPL: KZN Legislature
Minority Front Leader