Wednesday, January 09, 2008

DENOSA appeals to TB patients to return to hospital

By Anele Siwa
09 January 2008


The Democratic Nursing Organization of South Africa (DENOSA) on Tuesday has expressed its fear on the danger that XDR and MDR TB patients who escaped from hospital are exposing their relatives to and also the community at large.

"It is indeed disturbing to learn that up to now there are still patients who have not come back because in all TB hospitals and clinics patients are given health education on how infectious TB is," says Kholiswa Tota, DENOSA Provincial Secretary.

According to Tota these patients are aware that they should be on continuous treatment for a long period of time and in total isolation from the broader community.

Tota says DENOSA welcomes the Department of Health’s move to get a court order to force these XDR and MDR TB patients to return to hospital and proceed with their treatment.

"DENOSA is appealing (to) relatives and (the) community to bring back these patients immediately. We would also like to warn that XDR and MDR TB is highly infectious," she added.

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