Facilitator: Mzamo Zondi – Treatment Action Campaign
Date: Tuesday 26 October 2021
Time: 14h00 – 16h00
Zoom: https://ukzn.zoom.us/j/97336211177?pwd=L1Y4T1l1TDBvV1BCL05kZlMrSmx1dz09

The COVID-19 pandemic has currently overtaken every other health issue throughout the country. There are numerous ways in which this will impact existing public health challenges. The symptoms of TB and COVID-19 can be similar, with for example a cough and fever. Not only can this create diagnostic confusion, but it could worsen the stigmatization of TB patients. Children with TB are a vulnerable group especially likely to be affected as “collateral damage”. There will further be a confounding of symptoms and epidemiological data through co-infection, as happens currently with TB–HIV, and this will require attention. Lessons for COVID-19 could be learned from the vast experience of running global TB control programmes, while the astonishingly rapid and relatively well co-ordinated response to COVID-19 demonstrates how existing programmes could be significantly improved.

Speakers:

Siyabonga Nzimande – Director of Think- SA, psychologist and advocate for TB and HIV Vaccine research
Dr Lucas Ngoetjana – (PHD Philosophy UKZN), KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council CEO and Head of Church AIDS Network

About the Facilitator:

Mzamo Zondi is former Community Relations, Communications and Mobilisation team leader at the Human Sciences Research Council. He currently serves as Provincial Manager for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) KwaZulu-Natal. He is a human rights and anti-corruption activist with vast experience and knowledge of public health. Mzamo is also a Community Scholar at the Centre for Civil Society.