1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: Have your weekend breakfast with Gook, So single let's walk 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: to talk. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,319 Speaker 2: It's twenty two minutes before seven o'clock. Welcome back to 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: seven or two weekend breakfast with me Cook and Shone 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: tim Bras to speak health and coming up on Tuesday 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: is World TV Day. It is one of to mark 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: the moment to reflect on one of the deadliest infectious 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: diseases in history. And this is of course, is despite 9 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: TV being preventable and curable. We know in South Africa 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 2: we have many challenges with TV. At some point one 11 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: of the challenges was extreme drug resistant and multi drug 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: resistant TV. But just where are we in the efforts 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 2: to deal with TV infections? We know South Africa has 14 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: got a pretty good or we used to have pretty 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: good vaccine rollout of the BCG vaccine. So where are 16 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: we in twenty twenty six And to tell us or 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 2: to talk us through World TV Day twenty twenty six, 18 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: we'll right now on the line by doctor to Mosha P. Jackson. 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: Mara Kalala, the director of the South African Medical Research 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: Council's Center for Tuberculosis Research that's at the Stilenvolsh University. 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: They're also the chairperson of the upcoming twenty twenty six 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: South African TV Conference. And if you have questions for 23 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: the doctor, you can call us on A one one 24 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: eight three h seven oh two, send us an SMS 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: on three one seven oh two. Perhaps you in your 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: lifetime have dealt with a TV infection. It is quite 27 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,559 Speaker 2: a brutal disease to get The treatment is very long, 28 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: ninety days sometimes longer. So maybe you have an experience 29 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 2: of having had TV before. We'd love to hear about it. 30 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: On seven two seven oh two one seven oh two 31 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: as mentioned, joining us down the line as doctor Moshopeny Jackson, 32 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: Mara Kalala, Doctor Marakalala, A very good morning to you, 33 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 2: welcome to Weekend Breakfast. 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: Hi, good morning to you and the listeners, and thank 35 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: you for the opportunity to come to the show. 36 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, doctor, Thank you very much for 37 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: your time. So let's so when we speak about TB 38 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: exactly what are we talking about? What is tuberculosis? What 39 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: are some of the symptoms of this particular in pictious disease. 40 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, so, so TB, as it's known to many people, 41 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: has been you know, like affecting communities for over centuries. 42 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: So while there's treatment and there's being efforts over centuries, 43 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: but the disease remains stubborn. And as you know, there's 44 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: multiple factors contributing to that, which maybe we can discuss 45 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: later about. Yeah this sorry car, Okay. So symptoms are 46 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: just plastic symptoms are those like weight loss, like excessive sweating, 47 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: but also prolonged cough sometimes causing a little bit of blood. 48 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: So those are some of the symptoms that should prompt 49 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: that should prompt one to seek testing for TB. 50 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: And just how big of a challenge is TV globally. 51 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 2: We know in South Africa it's one of our diseases 52 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,839 Speaker 2: that has one of the biggest largest burdens on public house. 53 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: How big is it in South Africa? 54 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: Yes, our first globally TB are actually still we still 55 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: lose lives up to one point two five million lives 56 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: every year. And as you said, South that's ocase one 57 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: of the countries that are severely burdened by the disease. 58 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: And we actually have set of conditions that contribute to 59 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: that like mining environments, overcrowding in hostels and so on. 60 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: But statistically we have about in recent statistical sort of 61 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: results that we have in the country of about two 62 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty or about two hundred and seventy now 63 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: one thousand people that developed TV around from two thousand 64 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: and three twenty twenty three alone, so which actually makes 65 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: it one of the top thirty in the world of 66 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: countries that have highest burden of the disease. And of 67 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: course HIV is a compounding factor. So amongst those people 68 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: that developed BE about fifty four percent of those are 69 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: coinfected with the virus or the HIV. So it's still 70 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: a problem, but there is efforts actually are in place 71 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: that actually are making this disease more manageable. And I 72 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: think although we are legging behind in targets to really 73 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: eliminate or eradicate TV, but there's a lot of gains 74 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: over the years and programs that are attributed to us 75 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: that success. 76 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 2: You mentioned doctor that despite the fact that the disease 77 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 2: is treatable and curable, that the disease is remaining stubborn. 78 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: You also touched on some of the factors that are 79 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: contributing to this instance, running environments, overcrowding. Speak to us 80 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: about some of those challenges that are making it difficult 81 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: for TV to be I guess eradicated or for us 82 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: to lower those infection and fatality numbers. 83 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: Yes, thank you for that. I mean phrase from biomedical 84 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: point of view. The factors that compound to TB before 85 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: ready talked to, for instance HIV co infection, but we 86 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: know that if someone is living with a virus and 87 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: not getting treated, it might lead to a state whether 88 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: the immuno compromised. In other ways, the immune system is 89 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: actually lowered, for instance, the cells called city forty cells 90 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: which are actually targeted by the virus. But you need 91 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: those same immune cells to control diseases like TV, which 92 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: is why then TV becomes more opportunistic in people who 93 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: are immunocompromised. So that's one factor that might contribute to that. 94 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: And also the emergence of the so called drug resistant TB, 95 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: which means when the bacteria that causes TB or the 96 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: gym that causes TV, when it's no longer exposed to treatment, 97 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: when someone stops treatment, then it becomes severe, develops resistance, 98 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: then it requires treatment that's prolonged. So in a natural 99 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: two factors is HIV co infection as well as drug 100 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: resist change biomedically, But as it said, TV is not 101 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: only a biomedical challenge, it's also social issues wherehousing is 102 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: very important and also good nutrition as well as actually 103 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: like a regular testing and case finding that requires government 104 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: to engage civil society. 105 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 2: And also yes, sorry doctor, when you speak about the 106 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: importance of housing, is this about so when someone is 107 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: infected with TV that generally they need to be isolated, 108 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: they need to be away from other people in the house. 109 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 2: But because of the challenges with regards to housing in 110 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: the country, particularly in lower income communities, that isn't always possible. 111 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: Is that why housing is a factor? 112 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: Yes, possibly, but we need to be careful and interpret 113 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: that so that not to promote stigma, right, so that 114 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: if someone has to be then needs to be isolated 115 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 1: like during times of leprosy. No, it's not that case 116 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: in fact, so yes, But really what I'm trying to 117 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: communicate to is, for instance, often TV used to be 118 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: predominantly amongst men comes to women. And some of the 119 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: factors is that I storiclude have a lot of men 120 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: working underground in minds together and sitting staying together in 121 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: hostels maybe like based climser to each other, so overcrowding 122 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: in other ways, but that can also be translated into 123 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: settlements what do you call informal settlements. Sometimes and you 124 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: have like people maybe ten people even you know, to 125 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: stay in the same room if one has to been there, 126 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: chances are higher that some of them may get infected 127 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: as opposed to start a housing investment, right, enable, Yes, 128 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: so that's what I'm trying to make as a point. 129 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: Right, And so with regards to you mentioned that part 130 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: of the difficulty also relates to drug resistance. So someone 131 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: might be on treatment and then at some point they 132 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: abandoned treatment. Talk to us about what we understand about 133 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: that is it? Because the TV treatment can be quite 134 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: long understanding as you take the medication for quite quite 135 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: a few months, and then that could be extended if 136 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 2: you have you know, XDR or MDR TV. And so 137 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: are we seeing for instance, this thing called all this 138 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: idea of pro fatigue and people who are taking in 139 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: some people who are taking treatment for TB. 140 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely so. So basically drug resistant tibute means so 141 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: TB is often treated within six months with a regiment 142 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: or a treatment a sort of course that's proven to work. 143 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: But then drug resistance would mean that now you need 144 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: to have more drugs for a prolonged period of time, 145 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: and some of those drugs may actually have some side 146 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: effects and so on. So the treatment historically of drug 147 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: resistant TV for instance, can go for so long isn 148 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: up to twenty months if possible. But we need to 149 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: highlight recent sort of exciting development that actually has looked 150 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: into a combination of drugs. Then they call it b 151 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: par which is drugs called betaquilin, pretominant and lenards alge. 152 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: So this has been combined toreat resistant TV and can 153 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: be reduced to a treatment because of only six months 154 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: and it's an or our regiment. So this is one 155 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: of the exciting regiments that actually can actually take big 156 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: event to popular for MTRTB and we need to celebrate 157 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: such milestones that make it a little easier compared to previously. 158 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: When one head drug Region strangth of. 159 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: TV doctor you mentioned that there is like you just said, 160 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 2: the B power drugs that are quite an exciting development. 161 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: Are we still seeing or is there a possibility of 162 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: treatment being or the treatment time frame or the period 163 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: being shortened, because it seems that the length of treatment 164 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: is one of the big challenges in dealing with the disease. 165 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 2: Are we seeing potentially, or is there the possibility that 166 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 2: treatment regiments could be shortened because you said at the 167 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: moment it is six months, it can be up to 168 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 2: depending on twenty months, up to twenty months. Can we 169 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: see it growing shorter. 170 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: Yes, In fact, I think that's a great possibility. As 171 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 1: I mentioned, as is the case with MDRTV that it's 172 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: now shortened with the so called people, but then they 173 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: drug sensitive TV, it's still six months. But actually more 174 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: studies in other countries are exploring shortening to like four months. 175 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: But because TV treatment is four drugs, so one would 176 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: take the first two months, for instance, will take all 177 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 1: four drugs, and then from the rest of the remaining 178 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: foremants it's two drugs called ionized and reform peason. So 179 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: essentially during that time people are no longer infectious around 180 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 1: After two months, when they actually have their drug, it's 181 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: a matter of complete treatment for the bacteria remnants but 182 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: may still be around. So logically, if we actually develop 183 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: tools in research that can actually explore that possibility of 184 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: actually shortening TV, feather would actually solve lot of things 185 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: because because some of the contributors of drug resistant TB 186 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: is because of people who may no longer actually be 187 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: sticking to their treatment and if they stop treatment and 188 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: drug resistance develop. But also in a social issue where 189 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: time could discuss because to put may work in keep 190 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: down during December period good Eastern cape to home to 191 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: be family, then they are far from clinics and then 192 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 1: during that period of time there with families, they don't 193 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: have friends to get treatment and they come back, resistance 194 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 1: may develop. So if such factors again that took to 195 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: social issues that could actually be incorporated into countries programs 196 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: to understand the populations or communities. 197 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: Doctor tell us about the role that the BCG vaccine 198 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 2: plays with regards to tuberculosis during the COVID pandemic, there 199 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 2: were some theories that part of why we were seeing, 200 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: you know, the numbers that we did, which were much 201 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 2: lower than some of the estimates in terms of infections, 202 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: was because South Africa generally had good coverage of the 203 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 2: BCG vaccine. Is that still the case? Are we still 204 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 2: administering the vaccine? What impact are we seeing a play 205 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,439 Speaker 2: or what impacts are seeing it have on our TV 206 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: infection numbers? 207 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: Yes? Our first I mean BUSG has been used just 208 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: to know the as you mentioned, has being used for 209 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: over one hundred years as the only approved vaccine for TV. 210 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: So it's more effective in children, particularly preventing severe forms 211 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: of TV like what is called tibm ningitis, which could 212 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: be the TV of the brain. So it works very well, 213 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: but in adults as we grow that protection actually sort 214 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: of dwindles. It goes down that there's no reliability of 215 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: protection by BCGY in adults. That's why we get a 216 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: lot of TV. So while it works in children, is 217 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: the only thing we have. Now, there's efforts in plays 218 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: that are required to develop new vaccines and there's actually 219 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: quite a few in the powerpline right now that are 220 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: in clinical trials. So yeah, So countries like South Africa, India, 221 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: South and some countries in Southeast Asia that had a 222 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: high burden of disease it's actually benefited from PCG, But 223 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: other countries like USA to news PCG because of something 224 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 1: called cross pactivity that when you do skin test for 225 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: TV can get a negative or what you call false 226 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 1: positive because if you receive PCG to look like you 227 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: are actually infected, which is another case. 228 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 2: Yes, So World TV Day is coming up on the 229 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 2: twenty fourth of March. The theme for this year is 230 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 2: Yes we can end TB. The WHO is recommending acceleration 231 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 2: of near point of care and other ways to detect 232 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 2: TV earlier talk to us about some of these recommendations 233 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: by the World Health Organization and the theme for this year, 234 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 2: Yes we can end TB. And it's also seemingly that 235 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: one of the things that's important for this year is 236 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 2: involving people and communities. Talk to us about why that's 237 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: also such an important part of dealing with TV. 238 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: Absolutely, so one of my passion is really incorporating all 239 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: key stakeholders of our society into our efforts to controlling 240 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: these diseases. It's not only a science in the labs 241 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: or digitally combat the disease. So as the theme says, 242 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: yes we can end it, like you and I in 243 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: different roles that we exist in our society or effect spheres. First, 244 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: it's led by countries, but it's powered by people. So 245 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: when countries develop programs to combat they need to consider people, 246 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: they need to consider social effectors we've talked about, they 247 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: need to have champions and activism and also in other 248 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: civil society as KVISA in all these Yeah, so that's 249 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: the theme, that's what I interpreted and I think it's 250 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: something I'm passionate about. Also, as you mentioned that, I'm 251 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: sharing this at of continuy confidence that's happening in Jewing. 252 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: That's the same theme which says VUGA together can march 253 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: towards its tu free society. So so it talks to 254 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: efforts that come from government to people and everyone, including 255 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: everyone in developing these programs. But recent recommendations, as you 256 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: asked from who include what we call near point of 257 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: care diagnosis of TV. So this would involve developing tools 258 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: that one can use near their homes or near linux 259 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: that are far away from laboratories, so this would actually 260 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: be like out of centralized laboratories. So they should enable 261 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: same day diagnosis and then prompt treatment initiation immediately. So 262 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: I think targets populations in data in this case would 263 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: be for people who may not have access or are 264 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: underserved remote areas with resource limitations. So that should be 265 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: a revolution in terms of having super methods to diagnosity, 266 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: giving areas that are difficult to reach, and then other 267 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: things that are exciting. They also recommended to recent toubhow 268 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: what we call tang swab, which is for people including 269 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: adolescens and young children. We have people struggle to cough 270 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: to release what you call speitum. Then in that case, 271 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: the recommendation that there's being approven some of this way, 272 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: it comes from my center at Medical Research Council that 273 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: led to these decisions at World WORLDTERF organization. So using 274 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: a times up like the way we're doing it, COVID 275 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: can just put it in a tongue and then it 276 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: can actually extract sufficient sample to enable downstream technolisms of 277 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: a disease. So these are very exciting recommendations. 278 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so as you mentioned, coming up next week 279 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: Friday is the the South African Tuberculosis Conference. It's going 280 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 2: to be a gathering of experts, researchers and they'll be 281 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 2: talking about strategies, diagnostic tools, talk to us about some 282 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 2: of the some of the other things that will be 283 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 2: discussed in that program that could potentially help us get 284 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: closer to this idea of a TB free world. 285 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: Thank you. Just to verify to the South of Kent 286 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: TV conference is in June, which is the whole country. 287 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: So but the center that I'm a director of at 288 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: Stalembush University because it's a center specially working on TV 289 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: to commemorate World TV day, were having a symposium another 290 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: conference that actually is on the twenty seventh of March, 291 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: so that one we have like speakers again from multiple 292 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: global universities like in West of Southern General, University of California, 293 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,159 Speaker 1: San Francisco, and so on from India. So they are 294 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: speaking on Friday next week in our center. And then 295 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: the theme again is really focusing on three major issues 296 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 1: how to prevent or diagnosed better in time as well 297 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: as sexuality to improve treatment causes as things has been 298 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: discussing here. But then because it's really a biomedical such I, 299 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: we'll be hearing about recent trends and technologies, how to 300 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: combat to be better. So we'll also have a high 301 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,719 Speaker 1: paranel discussions from leaders in the field, including in at 302 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: governmental level about in recent times as you know, the 303 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 1: political dynamics and recent terms is that they see a 304 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: lot of funding cards, particularly the reliance or relying too 305 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: much a new USA for instance, for funding. So those 306 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: cards could actually be a call for us to start 307 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: looking locally for our own homegrowing solutions to target our 308 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: own challenges. So the same also discussion is like where 309 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: is TV where are the TV research friends? In light 310 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: of current funding landscape, and then how can we manage 311 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: on our own, say smaller good discussions, but looking evaluating 312 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: on our capacity to really tackle this disease that affects 313 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: us more than many others. So it's about it's about 314 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: not letting a good crisis to go on waste, using 315 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 1: this crisis to really turn into our own potential and strength. 316 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: Doctor. I must thank you very very much for giving 317 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: us your time this morning. It's been a great pleasure 318 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: having you on the show. 319 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. I appreciate the opportunity have a 320 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: lovely day. 321 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Doctor that is doctor Motlopenny Jackson Marakalala. 322 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: They're the director of the South African Medical Research Center 323 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 2: for TV Research at Stellonbash University. They're also the chairperson 324 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 2: of the upcoming at twenty twenty six South African TV Conference.