Everybody Breathes: Treating TB in Eshowe, South Africa

South Africa

In South Africa, we respond to disease epidemics, such as HIV and tuberculosis, and assist migrants with access to healthcare.

We work with undocumented people and migrants in Tshwane, where we run a project that provides access to medical care for these underserved communities.

MSF teams also respond to emergencies, such as flash floods in KwaZulu-Natal province and in the aftermath of violence.

In KwaZulu-Natal province, our project’s community-oriented approach is to increase integrated HIV testing and TB screening, as well as access and adherence to HIV treatment. We also advocate for better access and pricing to new drugs and vaccines.

Our activities in 2021 in South Africa

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2021.

MSF in South Africa in 2021 In South Africa, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) supported the COVID-19 response, while continuing to provide care for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) patients, victims of sexual violence and vulnerable migrants.
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MSF’s project in Eshowe, Mbongolwane and Ngwelezane in KwaZulu-Natal province responded to two major COVID-19 waves in 2021, by sending doctors and nurses to work in the COVID-19 wards of five hospitals. The project’s TB activities were closed for a week in July due to widespread social unrest in the province, in which more than 300 people died. In the immediate aftermath, we launched an emergency response, providing first aid and essential items such as blankets and hygiene kits, to support affected communities and health facilities.

To mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the uptake of TB services, our HIV/TB project in Khayelitsha, in Western Cape province, provided home-based care to patients. We also gave TB preventive treatment to more than 150 individuals who were exposed to the disease in their homes. 

In the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg, where we run a migrant health project, we supported COVID-19 vaccination activities for undocumented people. For these marginalised groups, the lack of any identifying documentation poses a barrier to healthcare. To facilitate better access to medical services, we worked with our partners to develop ‘Green Book’ healthcare cards, which are recognised by local health authorities in lieu of identifying documentation. 

In June, we handed over our sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) project in Rustenburg on South Africa’s Platinum Belt to the provincial health department. Recognising the need for a better medical and psychological response to rape, MSF teams developed community-based health hubs, which provided care to thousands of SGBV victims. The project additionally supported safe abortion care in Bojanala district, with our staff performing thousands of abortion procedures between 2018 and 2021. 
 

 

in 2021
 
Siyabulela Qwaka, XDR TB Survivor
Tuberculosis

More MSF patients with DR-TB gain access to dramatically cheaper version of life-saving drug

Press Release 1 Jul 2014
 
Journal article

Clinical Mentorship of Nurse Initiated Antiretroviral Therapy in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A Quality of Care Assessment

2 Jun 2014
Journal article
 
Siyabulela Qwaka, XDR TB Survivor
South Africa

"This disease is for heroes. If you can fight this, you can stand anything in this world"

Voices from the Field 24 Apr 2014
 
HIV and DR-TB treatment in Swazialnd, October 2013 (MSB3196 )
Tuberculosis

The old devil in new clothes

Voices from the Field 19 Mar 2014
 
Journal article

Outcomes in Adolescents Undergoing Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Cape Town, South Africa, 2008-2013

6 Mar 2014
Journal article
 
Nelisiwe Ziqugu, Community Health Agent, doing door to door HIV testing. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
HIV/AIDS

Two new studies point to impact of HIV treatment on transmission in high-HIV-burden African contexts

Press Release 6 Mar 2014
 
Journal article

Reflections on a decade of delivering PMTCT in Khayelitsha, South Africa

26 Feb 2014
Journal article
 
Journal article

Clinical Access to Bedaquiline Programme for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis

6 Feb 2014
Journal article
 
Project Update

MSF calls for scale-up of ‘viral load’ monitoring to improve HIV treatment outcomes in developing countries

Press Release 10 Dec 2013

Contact us

Bending the Curves - Eshowe HIV
MSF South Africa

7th Floor, Zurich House
70 Fox Street, Marshalltown
Johannesburg
South Africa