KwaZulu-Natal to launch its first dedicated XDR-TB facility to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis

KwaZulu-Natal will have its first dedicated extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis facility (XDR-TB).

This was revealed by Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer during his inspection of the construction site of the facility inside King Dinuzulu Hospital on Thursday morning.

The MEC said the R154 million facility will be the first one dedicated to the disease, which is among the top killer diseases in the country.

Meyer said the construction of the facility will free up a lot of space in the hospital, which it had to use to accommodate TB patients since it did not have a dedicated facility for them.

“I am happy that the province will have a dedicated XDR-TB facility, which will cater to more patients from all over. This is a fulfillment of my responsibility as the Public Works MEC to ensure that the public gets quality health care in our province by providing necessary facilities in our hospitals,” said the MEC.

The facility is a referral for all hospitals in the province, and once completed, it will have all the necessary equipment to ensure quality treatment for TB patients.

The hospital’s Acting CEO, Tumelo Mabesa, said there was a great demand for the facility since the hospital is the only one in the province that can treat XDR-TB.

He said that because of the growing number of XDR patients, he was forced to use the pharmacy space and other facilities to treat these patients.

The MEC also inspected the completed helipad, where the emergency chopper will land when bringing patients who need urgent attention. The helipad cost R18 million.

The project was stalled in 2011 after the company that was building the facility became insolvent. It was restarted last year and is expected to be completed in May next year.

After the facility's construction company went bankrupt in 2011, the project was put on hold. It is anticipated to be finished in May next year, having been restarted the previous year.

Last year, it was disrupted by notorious business forums that demanded to be subcontracted, but that was quickly resolved by the main contractor, who managed to negotiate with the forums.

According to the MEC, the project required specialised skills; hence, the main contractor was unable to assign any business that lacked the necessary expertise to the project.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za