Kathleen Webb, the Health Team Lead for USAID in Cape Town, Dr Prineetha Naidoo, Head of Projects (MatCH), Handri Liebenberg (Western Cape Government Health, Cape Winelands), and Cindy Dlamini, TB / Integrated Services Team Lead (USAID) at the launch in Worcester.
The introduction of mobile Digital Chest X-ray Services to the Western Cape province has been a significant highlight of the USAID ACCELERATE 2 Project. In collaboration with THINK’s sub-partner, MatCH, the unit was unveiled at the Worcester CHC in the Cape Winelands district and at the Malmesbury CHC in the West Coast. This mobile unit provide X-ray services at health-care facilities in various municipalities within the districts, ensuring quicker TB diagnosis and treatment.
The launch in Worcester took place in May and was attended by stakeholders including Kathleen Webb, the Health Team Lead for USAID in Cape Town, Cindy Dlamini, the USAID TB & Integrated Services Team Lead, Handri Liebenberg and Angelique Theron from the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness and Dr Prineetha Naidoo, the Head of Projects for MatCH.
Cape Winelands communities in areas with high TB prevalence, such as Breede Valley, Drakenstein, and Witzenberg are in urgent need of mobile health services. Angelique Theron, Primary Health Care Manager for the Breede Valley, emphasized this by stating:
“We actively seek out TB in communities and ask people with TB symptoms to visit our clinics, but if you do not have symptoms, you can still spread TB without realising it. This is where an initiative like the mobile digital chest X-ray service will strengthen our approach.”
Representatives USAID, THINK, MatCH and the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness launching the Mobile AI-enabled Chest X-ray Service in Malmesbury.
For the unveiling in Malmesbury in July, key stakeholders addressed the audience, including Josef Tayag, the Provincial Advisor for USAID, who spoke about the service’s broader implications for public health. Chipo Mutambo, THINK’s Deputy Chief of Party for the ACCELERATE 2 Project, highlighted the ongoing strengthening of the partnership between MatCH, THINK, and the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness. She emphasized that this collaboration is vital for enhancing healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes in the community. She reaffirmed THINK’s commitment to making a meaningful difference in the fight against TB through innovative solutions like the Mobile AI-enabled Chest X-ray Service.
This initiative represents a significant step forward in ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all, reflecting the dedication of all partners to work together to improve public health.
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