MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Members of the public are invited to join the Close the Gap Campaign for an END Tuberculisis (TB) Walkathon in Mossel Bay on Tuesday 24 March, coinciding with World TB Day.
This year, Close the Gap will be following the theme ‘You and I can end TB’.
The walkathon will begin at the Alma Clinic in Bill Jeffery Drive and will end at the Asla Clinic in Crotz Street, Asla Park, where information surrounding TB, including a self-screening checklist, will be shared.
Participants may also undergo voluntary and free TB testing as part of the campaign.
Close the Gap is a nationwide public health initiative launched by the Department of Health and aims to “close the gap” between those who have been diagnosed with illnesses such as TB and HIV, but have abandoned or have been inconsisent with treatment.
The initiative also focuses on informing communities across South Africa, including in Mossel Bay, about these illnesses and encourages testing and treatment at a local level.
How does TB spread?
TB is spread from one person to another by the inhaling of droplets present in the air, when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Common symptoms of active TB include:
- coughs
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm).
The walk will begin at 10:00, but participants are advised to arrive 30 minutes earlier.
Enquiries: Visit either the Alma Clinic or the Asla Clinic and speak to a member of Close the Gap.
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