South African TB patients rampage
Pastor Dale Morgan
South African TB patients rampage*
By CLARE NULLIS
The Associated Press
Friday, June 27, 2008; 1:37 PM
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Authorities increased security Friday at a
tuberculosis hospital where patients with drug-resistant forms of the
disease went on a rampage to protest prison-like conditions.
Twenty-two patients were arrested Wednesday, accused of public violence
and assault after they pelted staff with stones and vandalized
equipment. But the local police station and prison refused to admit them
because of fears of the highly infectious disease. Instead, they were
returned to the hospital.
"When the patients were arrested, they threatened staff members, saying
that they would retaliate when they returned to the hospital," local
health authority spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said. "This will not be tolerated."
The Jose Pearson hospital, near the coastal city of Port Elizabeth,
treats about 300 patients. Many have multidrug-resistant TB and the even
more dangerous extensively drug-resistant TB, which is very difficult
and expensive to treat. Those with drug-resistant strains are supposed
to stay in the hospital for six months to two years, living in isolated
wards surrounded by barbed wire and security guards.
South African authorities have reluctantly resorted to enforced
confinement of patients with drug-resistant TB because of fears that it
might otherwise spread through the community. TB is an airborne bacteria
and can be spread easily through coughing or sneezing.
The country is gripped by a tuberculosis crisis, which is feeding off
the AIDS epidemic and striking the weakened immune system of victims.
Nearly 60 percent of South African TB patients have AIDS. The emergence
of drug-resistant TB strains _ often the result of not sticking to the
standard six-month course of treatment _ has worsened patients' chances
of survival.
There were 2,901 cases of multidrug-resistant TB in South Africa last
year, and 561 cases of extensively drug-resistant TB. But the reported
figures are believed to be only an indication of the real situation,
because many patients die before they can be diagnosed.
This year, the government is spending an additional 400 million rands
(US$50 million euro32 million) on beds for people with drug-resistant
TB. But anger, frustration and depression are high at hospitals like
Jose Pearson, and there are constant staff shortages because nurses are
afraid of contracting the disease.
Twenty-two patients cut through the hospital's wire fencing and escaped
just before Christmas to spend time with their families. Most eventually
returned after authorities searched house to house, but the same pattern
was repeated at Easter.
The Eastern Cape provincial health department equipped the hospital with
new televisions, DVDs and games to try to relieve the boredom.
The local Herald newspaper said tension at the hospital exploded
Wednesday after patients refused to let a nurse give them their daily
injection. A local government official arrived to try to defuse the row
and when security guards opened a gate to allow the nurse to leave,
patients stormed them.
The guards, armed with pepper spray and batons, formed a human chain
behind the car and blocked the patients who wielded iron rods and golf
clubs. Some patients hurled rocks and a large concrete brick through the
window of the security booth and smashed video monitors. A large
contingent of police arrived, donned protective masks and latex gloves,
and arrested the patients, the newspaper reported.