Annually, the world sets aside one day a year in an effort to raise awareness of the Tuberculosis (TB) pandemic that plagues Southern Africa .

This year, the CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit based at the Cape Town Campus hosted a pledge ceremony on 25 March 2009, a day after World TB Day, in collaboration with the Campus Health Clinic and Student Counselling Services.

This TB awareness ceremony took place on the Helipad of the Granger Bay campus with the theme “I am stopping TB”.

Approximately 250 guests, which included staff and students, gathered to witness the reading and signing of the TB Pledge developed by Dr Ashraf Mohammed Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit.

As a symbolic gesture, student HIV/Aids Peer Educators, Peer Helpers from the Counseling Services and Community Youth Peer Educators from Mitchell’s Plein released ten homing pigeons to represent the goal of breaking free from TB.

During the ceremony various speakers delivered presentations on TB. Marius Harmsen, a Health Promoter at the HIV/AIDS Unit, related his personal battle for survival with TB.

Other speakers were Dr Espe Makinde from the Cape Town Campus Health Clinic who shared her personal experiences of from a medical perspective and Sister Sylvia Abrahams from the HIV/AIDS Unit, who highlighted that TB was curable and stressed the need to complete full six months TB treatment.

TB is primarily transmitted as airborne bacteria and if detected early and treated with proper consistent medication, it can be cured within six months and thus prevent the further spread of TB.

Dr Mohammed, who cited from a published article, said that an estimated 1.5 million people died from TB in 2006 alone and an additional 200, 000 people died as a result of HIV associated TB.

“This was one of the main reasons why the HIV/AIDS Unit took on the project of developing the TB Pledge,” said Dr Mohammed.

“The TB Pledge also advises that signatories should seek help at their nearest health facility for TB screening if they experience two or more signs and symptoms described there,” advised Dr Mohammed.

During the event, the Peer Educators gathered as many signatures as possible to emphasise the CPUT community’s commitment to gaining awareness on TB and HIV/AIDS related matters.

By Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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As CPUT celebrates the coming launch of Golden Key, the institution recognises one of its own who has recently achieved membership status.

Dr Ashraf Mohammed, Head of Department for the HIV/AIDS Unit, completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town where he developed his profile in the medical field.

His doctoral thesis focused on the aspects of a tuberculosis (TB) screening test developed, which was subsequently included in the national guideline to HIV-positive patients.

Prior to graduating with his qualification, Dr Mohammed published several papers for peer review and submitted data to global medical bodies such as the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation to be included in their meta-analysis studies.

As a result of these fine academic achievements, he was invited to become a member of the Society earlier this year.

Written by CPUT News
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A group of nurses have benefited from visual acuity training recently provided by CPUT’s Ophthalmic Sciences Department.

Lecturer Prasidh Ramson said the Department was approached by TASK Applied Science to bolster nurses’ training in three basic screening tests that are important for patients that have tuberculosis (TB).

As a rare side effect which is mostly reversible, TB medication can affect certain components of vision. Thus, vision changes can be indicators of side effects related to the condition. While these vision changes can occur infrequently, the overall adherence to medication is vital in the continued health of patients with TB and others in their community.

“There are some forms of TB medication that, with time, can affect the part of your eye that you use for colour vision. Through testing, we screen to see if any changes have occurred due to the TB medication. If a patient does appear to have colour vision challenges, the dose or type of medication then has to be reviewed by their doctor,” says Ramson.

Ramson led the training and was assisted by his colleague, Michael Jowell.

Michelle Eriksson, site coordinator at TASK Applied Science, said the training had been a valuable learning experience for nurses.
“We would like to thank CPUT’s Ophthalmic Sciences Department for being so willing and supportive in providing this training. Our nurses really enjoyed the interactive and engaging training session and feel they have consolidated their knowledge and improved their understanding and skills in visual acuity training”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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