DTTC World TB Day dissemination meeting
On Wednesday the 13th of March, the Desmond Tutu TB Centre (DTTC) held the annual World TB Day dissemination meeting at the Biomedical Research Institute Conference venue, Tygerberg Campus. Staff, honoured guests and partners were offered a warm welcome by MCs Dr Jennifer Hughes and Asikhangele (Shoes) Mtshabe. Professor Elmi Muller, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences opened the meeting with presentation on the DTTC as a leader in TB research, followed by an overview of the DTTC by director, Professor Anneke Hesseling.
Guest speaker, Dr Lenny Naidoo, presented on improving TB control in the Western Cape. DTTC team representatives then presented on key projects and achievements from the DTTC in 2023. Highlights of the DTTC in 2023 included data that have impacted on new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines – including multidrug-resistant TB tuberculosis preventive treatment, TB prevention (TB CHAMP and TBTC Study 35): 2024, the completion of 5 clinical trials, more than 60 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals, and more than 40 presentations at international meetings . The DTTC also led in the development of the new South African guidelines for TB in children, adolescents and pregnant women and the Centre spearheads the South African TB Think Tank for Priority Groups. A musical item by was performed by the talented Chloe Loggenberg, a first year music student at Stellenbosch University. The meeting was followed by a lunch that was enjoyed by all attendees.
