Interview with TB HIV CARE: What misconceptions are there about TB and HIV?

TB and HIV are two conditions that are often misunderstood amongst the public and they are two conditions that are widespread in South Africa and many other parts of the world. TB and HIV are diseases that can affect anyone of any background, although some conditions make you more vulnerable than others, despite popular belief. Additionally, many people have misconceptions about how you catch TB, that you can catch it from a toilet seat for example, when it is in fact an airbourne disease. TB and HIV are not deadly and there are steps you can take to be treated if you suspect that you might've caught either or. 

TB HIV Care is a non-profit organization that utilizes an integrated care model to respond to mainly TB and HIV. They work to prevent, find, and treat TB and HIV in South Africa. They focus on populations at risk such as sex workers, inmates, and individuals who inject drugs. They focus on meeting people where they are whether that is coming to their homes, workplaces, or public spaces. Centers are located all around the coast of western and eastern cape and so on. Today we will be hearing from Igshaan de Vries, one of TB HIV Care’s nurse counsellors. 

In our interview we spoke about why the focus is on those underrepresented groups, how can people become more informed about TB and HIV, and what resources the public should seek. Igshaan made sure to emphasize getting yourself checked, not believing everything that you hear from the public, and how TB HIV Care is trying to provide for the community in accessible ways.