SOUTH AFRICA / TB GLOBAL PLAN LAUNCH

South Africa's Western Cape is home to one of highest rates of TB in the world and scientists are forging ahead with research on a fully effective vaccine that could eliminate TB all together. WHO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:03
• Production Date: 13 October 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; HEALTH SERVICES; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; DISEASES
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH AFRICA
• MAMS Id: U101013c

Description

STORY: SOUTH AFRICA / TB GLOBAL PLAN LAUNCH
TRT: 2.03
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 8 OCTOBER, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT 2010, KAYELITSHA AND CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Shotlist

RECENT 2010, KAYELITSHA, SOUTH AFRICA

1. Wide shot, Khayelitsha
2. Med shot, exterior of Site C clinic
3. Close-up of boy with mask
4. Med shot, boy on bench
5. Close up, girl with mask
6. Med shot, young woman
7. Close up, patients hands taking pills
8. Wide shot, patients taking pills
9. Med shot, Doctor Sweetness Siwendu examining patient with stethoscope
10. Close up, stethoscope
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sweetness Siwendu, Doctor:
“It would be really great if we could have a vaccine and if not, then at least be able to diagnose TB as soon as possible, preferably within the same day, so that when you come to the clinic in the morning, you could leave with a diagnosis.”

RECENT 2010, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

12. Wide shots, entrance to NHLS
13. Wide shots, scientist opening machine
14. Wide shot, side view of scientist adding chemicals
15. Close-up of scientist’s hand with container
16. Med shot, overhead of scientist with machine
17. Close up, scientist extracting fluid from vials
18. Close up of needlepoint injecting fluid

8 OCTOBER 2010, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director of the Stop TB Partnership, WHO:
“This new “while you wait” tests can make all the difference in stemming the spread of tuberculosis. And by 2015, new drug regimens should be in their final testing stage but we need to save lives now and TB control still works. Without an effective intervention, ten million people, including four million women who will lose their lives millions of children will be orphaned needlessly. The Global Plan to Stop TB provides an urgent needed blueprint to cut global TB deaths in half. A new vaccine could eliminate TB all together and that in fact is our ultimate goal.”

RECENT 2010, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

12. Med shot, dry ice
13. Wide shots, bio-bank

Storyline

A journey to a clinic in Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town is the first step to recovery for these young people with tuberculosis. The disease is widespread here and for doctors like Sweetness Siwendu, there’s an endless flow of patients.

Although TB is treatable, it takes time to detect. Labs in most countries are still searching for bacteria in sputum, a method that hasn’t changed in over a century. Modern rapid TB tests are now becoming available.

Doctor Siwendu thinks “it would be really great” if there was a new TB vaccine and if not that at least to be able to diagnose TB as soon as possible, “preferably within the same day, so that when you come to the clinic in the morning, you could leave with a diagnosis.”

Meanwhile on the other side of town, scientists are pushing ahead with a genetic test that cuts the time it takes to diagnose multi-drug-resistant TB from 70 days to 2 days. Newer tests that have recently become available shorten the wait time to hours, but most countries don't have them yet. The WHO Stop TB Department says they can’t come soon enough.

That goal drives research at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative. Here researchers believe they’re edging closer to developing fully effective vaccine.

Even with new test and vaccines, treatment will be impossible without help from governments. The Global plan calls for them to spend on diagnosis and treatment.

The Plan also appeals to donors to fill the funding gap, such as in this community, where many have HIV-associated TB. Under a new national policy, TB patients will be tested for HIV. This could speed up treatment and save lives. And for the young, better prospects for the future.

Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director of the ‘Stop TB Partnership’ at the World health organization in Geneva believes that the new “while you wait” tests could make all the difference in stemming the spread of tuberculosis.

He also said that by 2015 new drug regimens should be in their final testing stage “but we need to save lives now and TB control still works”.

Raviglione is hopeful that the Global Plan to Stop TB is taking that goal dream one step closer to being realized.