Aahh, tuberculosis, the serial killer! It wonders through the cities, towns, communities and homes. Tuberculosis is second only to HIV/Aids as the greatest killer worldwide due to a single infectious agent. It does not care about the victims; it does not care for gender, for religion or for colour. A victim is a victim and a host is a host.
Tuberculosis appears to be particularly fond of the poor and vulnerable, invading shacks where many are gathered around their meagre meals, staving off starvation. It sneaks around the woman gathered at the single tap or watering hole and the lost with hopelessness in their eyes.
Tuberculosis is well known to us and much is spent to track it down. Sometimes we corner it, and it seems to slip through our fingers. Sometimes we contain it, and then like a thief in the night, it slips out and finds more victims.
It is elusive and it appears we cannot arrest it. It ravages its victims; leaves them weak, in pain and exhausted from constant hacking. Tuberculosis found one victim, which became ten, became thousands and overtime it has got to millions and
as our poor South Africans become more despondent, more dependent it takes more control.
The victims are angry, broken and survival every day is a challenge. Some victims are embarrassed, shying away from victimhood, afraid of segregation and persecution and disdain of their communities. Many victims will seek help, tired of being ill and desperate for respite. And so, with their few coins they will go to their clinics, seek help and find the means to shake off this dreaded stalker. But over time, and with no resources, getting aid becomes exhausting as the disease itself.
Without the financial means and weak, lengthy travels and long queues at clinics becomes a burden to great to bear. Some are fighters ensuring that at whatever cost they will release themselves from control of their dreaded stalker, and with time and proper medication they find themselves on the mend.
Sadly though, feeling better and confident that they are no longer under the control of the dreaded stalker, they stop medicating. Many are unaware that the TB stalker, if not eradicated completely will turn from just a stalker to a
serial killer. It mutates and gains back control in every sense of the word. Tuberculosis is unforgiving.
It is quick to take advantage of the sad economic situation in South Africa, of the poor health facilities and the unemployment. It is quick to take advantage of the hungry, of the poor housing and lack of basic facilities. South Africa has the fifth highest burden of TB globally and TB remains one of the leading causes of death in South Africa.
Over 95% of TB deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. As the situation in South Africa deteriorates so does the health of its citizens, the workforce, and for those that are lucky enough to work lose productivity. Education takes a knock.
The time has come to say enough is enough to our vicious stalker. It needs to be arrested and stopped in its tracks. Better health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more.
The time has come for change. It is time for those who claim to care for the poor and vulnerable, the sick and the ravaged to put their hands up and prove it. Our current track record shows us a government in denial and out of touch with reality.
We care and say today: If those in control cannot manage this untenable situation, we will! Time and time again we have proved that we can deliver, and we do. It is a testament to an organisation that cares, that puts the needs of South Africans first.
We have planned and delivered strategies to arrest this stalker, to give its victims the opportunity to fight back and arrest it. The means to instil hope, to alleviate the poverty and the abysmal living conditions. Our universal vision is a world free of tuberculosis and that means zero deaths, zero diseases and suffering due to tuberculosis.
We, the DA, stand united with all South Africans and the world in the fight against tuberculosis, and it is a fight we must win. I thank you. [Applause.]