MEDIA ADVISORY & INVITATION
TO ALL MEDIA
18 MARCH 2021
DEPUTY PRESIDENT DAVID MABUZA TO LEAD WORLD TB DAY COMMEMORATION IN THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE
PRETORIA, 22 March 2022
Deputy President David Mabuza in his capacity as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will lead the official commemoration of World TB Day on 24 March 2022 in Barkley West, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
World TB Day is commemorated each year on March 24 to highlight the devastating health, social and economic impact of TB. South Africa is among the nations hardest hit by tuberculosis and the infection has remained the leading cause of death in our country for several years.
This year’s theme for the commemoration of World TB Day is ‘Invest in Action to End TB NOW! Get Screened. End Stigma. Save Lives.’ This is a clarion call to every South African to invest in various actions to contribute towards the national efforts to end TB. The theme is aligned to the Global Theme, Invest to End TB. Save Lives, a call to world leaders to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for TB response. The case for investment goes beyond the monetary aspect as it also speaks to the little actions an individual could do to contribute towards ending TB, such as deciding to get screened or to start and stay on treatment if infected. The theme also introduces an element of urgency through the word “now” to demonstrate the need to prioritise TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
The World TB day event will be preceded by a Policy-in-Action engagement with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Inter-Faith Leaders and Traditional Health Practitioners on their active participation in an integrated HIV, TB, STIs and Covid-19
response.
Deputy President Mabuza will be accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr. Joe Phaahla; Premier of Northern Cape, Dr. Zamani Saul, SANAC Civil Society Chairperson, Ms. Steve Letsike; the Chairperson of the SANAC Private Sector Forum, Ms. Mpumi Zikalala as well as representatives from development partners inclusive of United Nations Agencies, United States Embassy, PEPFAR and Centers for Disease Control, research entities, civil society movements and the private sector.
Members of the media are invited to participate and cover the 2-day commemorative event as follows:
DAY 1: Wednesday 23 March 2021
(a) Visit to Ekapa Kimberley Mine
Time: 09:00
Venue: Ekapa Kimberley Mine
(b) Engagement with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders
Time: 11h00
Venue: Hoërskool Vaalrevier, Barkley West, Francis Baard District, Northern Cape.
(c) Engagement with inter-faith leaders
Time: 14:30
Venue: Emmanuel Eben Haeser Lodge, 20 De Beersdam Road, Barkley West
DAY 2: Thursday 24 March 2022 – Official Commemoration of World TB Day
Time: 09:30
Venue: Hoërskool, Vaalrivier, 7 North Street, Barkley West,
Frances Baard District Municipality, Northern Cape
For media queries, please contact:1. Presidency – Matshepo Seedat: matshepo@presidency.gov.za / 082 679 9473
2. SANAC – Nelson Dlamini: nelson@sanac.org.za / 078 731 0313
3. Department of Health – Foster Mohale: foster.mohale@health.gov.za / 072 4323792
Members of the media are kindly requested to RSVP with their full name, designation,
media house and ID number to Simangaliso Motsepe: simangaliso@sanac.org.za
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY
UNION BUILDINGS
PRETORIA