THINK South Africa, generously supported by USAID, played a pivotal role at the 8th South African TB Conference held from June 4-7 in Durban. Themed “Accelerating Progress to End TB,” the conference convened global experts to address the urgent challenge of combating TB, which affects millions in South Africa.
Our goals at the conference were clear: to illuminate innovative solutions, share best practices, and forge collaborations with global experts. Our mission aligns with the World Health Organisation’s End TB Strategy by 2025, and South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) goal of significantly reducing the TB burden by 2030.
Innovative TB Detection a
nd Care
Dr Louisa Dunn, a UK-trained medical doctor with extensive experience in TB care, presented THINK’s work on digital chest X-ray (dCXR) technology combined with AI to enhance TB diagnosis in KwaZulu-Natal, offering faster and more reliable results. She also introduced THINK’s Centralised Linkage to Care Model in KwaZulu-Natal, which centralises resources to streamline diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, ensuring quicker treatment initiation and reducing interruptions. Additionally, Dr Dunn discussed improvements in managing drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), highlighting better patient outcomes and access to quality care.
Community-Centric Approaches
Masingita Lambane, THINK’s Head of Strategic Partnerships and Community Systems Strengthening, highlighted initiatives such as mobile digital X-ray units and school-based contact tracing, focusing on early TB detection and comprehensive care beyond homes. THINK’s approach, extending beyond traditional methods, uses expertise in social science and strategic communication to effectively reach diverse communities and make significant progress in combating TB.
The 8th SA TB Conference served as a vital platform for THINK to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to community-based TB solutions. Our participation underscored a profound dedication to driving progress and igniting change in the relentless fight against TB.