Author: Ramalitse Sakoane
Position: Dr
Institution: Norfolk And Norwich University Hospital
E-mail: r.sakoane@doctors.org.uk
Submitted Date: January 23, 2007
Published Date: January 23, 2007
This comment was originally posted as a “Reader Response” on the publication date indicated above. All Reader Responses are now available as comments.

It is only about 25 years since the abolition or abandonment of TB sanatoria in South Africa. It is likely that there are people in South Africa who are familiar with the idea of isolation of TB patients from the general public emanating from the era of TB sanatoria, and it is conceivable that they are likely to be understanding of the reasons that were used to keep people there during their treatment.

These people could help with increasing the acceptability of isolation in sanatoria now, and help in making the idea acceptable again to the general public. Anyway, the TB sanatoria were rightfully regarded as hospitals as indeed they were, and I cannot see why modern day sanatoria should be viewed and regarded differently. Granted, with the likelihood that the patients detained in these envisaged isolation areas may be more likely to die than be discharged, it will be a mammoth task to convince the "detainees" to stay there or their families to allow there them to be kept there, especially if they are minors or the elderly infirm. It is a tough call but it is worth a try.

The South African Government owes it to the South African public to explore this idea or one along these lines. There is no time for chickening out on this XDR-TB issue.