As World TB Day, observed annually on 24 March, is commemorated globally, a local survivor has shared a message of hope and resilience.
The day raises public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and calls for intensified efforts to end the epidemic.
In an interview with Limpopo Mirror, Ms Ndivhudzannyi Goodness Tshavhumbya of Mukondeni village, outside Louis Trichardt, shared her journey of living with HIV and surviving TB.
A graduate of the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences and an Honours degree in Gender Studies, Tshavhumbya said she tested HIV positive at Mashamba Clinic in 2014. She initially refused antiretroviral treatment due to fear of stigma and denial.
Her condition worsened in 2018 when she was diagnosed with TB after experiencing a persistent cough for over a month, severe weight loss, and loss of appetite.
“The journey was not easy at all,” she said.
She underwent a strict six-month TB treatment programme without interruption. Although the large tablets were difficult to take, support from her younger brother, who helped dissolve them, enabled her to complete the course.
“In six months I was completely cured. Today, I am living proof that TB is curable. To get cured, you must first accept that you are sick and commit to taking your medication regularly,” she said.
Now a health advocate, Tshavhumbya urges people to test regularly for both HIV and TB to ensure early detection and timely treatment.
“Do not wait until it is too late. Accept your status, seek help, and stay on treatment. That is the only way to stay alive,” she emphasised.
Her story reinforces the message behind World TB Day — that TB is preventable, treatable, and curable if detected early and properly managed.
Although qualified, Tshavhumbya remains unemployed but has dedicated her life to raising awareness about HIV and TB.
Globally, TB remains one of the leading infectious killers, claiming an estimated 1.3 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organization. In South Africa, one of the countries hardest hit, the disease continues to pose a serious public health challenge, with around 50,000 to 55,000 deaths recorded annually.