02 Mar 2016

The St Condrads Clinic in Ramotswa hosted a Tuberculosis (TB) awareness session at the Re Fa Ka Bone Caring Center.

The day care centre cares for the elderly and mentally challenged.

The session was held to teach the clients and staff about TB symptoms, prevention and treatment.

A registered nurse at the clinic, Ms Keitumetse Tsiako began the session by asking the clients what they know about the virus and only two of the 28 clients present said they had knowledge about the virus as they had it.

The remaining 26 said they have never attended sessions about TB and therefore had no knowledge of the virus.

Ms Tsiako explained  that TB symptoms included a prolonged cough, excessive sweating and loss of appetite.

She went on to discuss prevention of contracting the illness.

Ms Tsiako advised the elderly to open doors and windows every morning for proper air ventilation.

She also advised them to adhere to a healthy diet by eating fruits and vegetables to boost their immune system.

The clients were encouraged to exercise by taking walks and resting when they are exhausted.

She also encouraged the clients to get tested for TB whenever there is a TB patient in their household.

During the question and answer session, 98-year-old Mr Leonika Monti shared his TB experience.

He said he was on treatment for six months and said although the duration was long, he was motivated to keep taking the treatment as he was looking forward to getting healed.

Ms Mmapula Rankae, also a nurse at the St Condrads Clinic said the only medical drugs meant for TB are those that cure the virus and added that it is possible to get the virus more than once. Ends