12 June 2012; Durban. According to the Chairperson of the TB Conference Prof Martie van der Walt, the rate of TB infection is on the rise. It is stated that the TB epidemic is fuelled by high HIV co-infection rates and compounded by drug-resistant forms of the disease. This year the NHLS will join in the fight against TB by playing a key role in this annual TB Conference .
The Conference is expected to hear the NHLS’s perspective on TB where Professor Nazir Ismail, Head Microbiologist for the Centre for Tuberculosis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the NHLS will address the plenary session. Prof Ismail’s 25 minute presentation will take place on Wednesday, 13 June 2012 at 09:00 – 10:30 and will focus on: “Diagnosis of Tuberculosis In South Africa”.
An interesting NHLS exhibition will showcase its services and products. The organisation will also be showcasing the GeneXpert®-XVI-site-instrument used for TB testing. Interested delegates will be shown how the instruments are operated by the NHLS technologists during TB testing.
This year the theme of the 3rd SA TB Conference is “Reaching the Target” and will build on the momentum of the previous TB conferences and give communities an opportunity to assess progress towards reaching TB/HIV targets. Thus, giving meaning to the theme for the 2012 TB Conference: “Reaching the target”.
As is known by many, TB is a disease which roots in the social structures of societies. This conference will therefore, not only be about science but also on how science affects our daily lives in the eradication, control and management of TB in societies. . The Conference will be attended by national and International delegates working in communities, health facilities, policy and science in embracing the opportunity for reaching the targets!
Enquiries:
Nothando Simelane
Manager
Communication, Marketing and Public Relations
Tel: 011 885 5394 | Cell: 082 329 4780
Fax: 086 514 6884
nothando.simelane@nhls.ac.za | www.nhls.ac.za
