Poverty plays role in TB incidence: official

from The SABC

The director of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dr Lindiwe Mvusi, says poverty is the biggest factor in the high incidence of TB. She has been addressing stake holders at a 'managing TB in the workplace' briefing in East London.

Mvusi says the most unfortunate part is that TB is prevalent among the youth. The briefing is an initiative of the department of health and the US Aid University Research Corporation as part of a TB awareness drive. The initiative comes a day after a report released stating that good nutrition does not prevent HIV/Aids or tuberculosis from maturing.

The Academy of Science's report titled 'Nutrition no substitute for HIV/AIDS and TB drugs' was put together by nutritionists, immunologists, biochemists and other experts. The report has found that nutrition is important for people with HIV/AIDS or TB.

However the report finds that medication is a critical requirement for them. The health department responded saying the study confirms the approach taken by the department regarding HIV/Aids and other diseases.