TB research at the Medical Research Council of SA

The National TB Research Programme (TBRP) of the Medical Research Council of South Africa (MRC) has provided vital support for the control of TB in Southern Africa. Contributions from research efforts at the MRC has led to the implementation of a new TB register, an improved laboratory system for TB diagnosis, an understanding of TB multidrug resistance, better knowledge of clinic functioning, and better ways to improve the relationship between TB patients and health care workers. The TBRP has also contributed to the understanding of the TB epidemic in South Africa and the expected impact of HIV. It is estimated that if poor TB control continues, together with the escalating HIV epidemic, this will result in 600 000 cases of TB per year by the year 2005 (Source National TB Programme).

Demographic profile
TB is the leading infectious killer of youths and adults in South Africa and it is estimated that it kills almost 1 000 people every month. Although effective TB drugs have been available for decades in South Africa, and in nine cases out of ten TB is curable, TB in South Africa is still a major problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that South Africa has one of the worst TB epidemics in the world because of the high rates of TB, increasing rates of HIV and the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB.

In 1993 the Medical Research Council developed a programme that would standardize TB treatment and drug supplies, encouraged sharing of research results: ensuring effective treatment for individuals who moved from one country to another, and co-ordination of technical assistance to provide a comprehensive regional TB programme. In 1995 South Africa became one of 12 countries that formed part of the Southern African TB Control Initiative (SATCI). SATCI was formed in an effort to build partnerships between countries that experienced an epidemic in TB so that they might implement effective TB programmes in an attempt to save lives and money and avoid the duplication of TB control activities (Source TB Annual Report 1997-1998). The following table illustrates the number of patients who contract TB in SATCI countries and the percentage of people who are cured

Tuberculosis Management and control in SATCI countries

Source SATCI Survey 1996