Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted from one person to another. The emphasis of communicable disease management are on prevention, early diagnosis, and initiating measures to prevent transmission and serious morbidity, disability and death.
Mandela University Student Health Services are required to ensure that all incidence of communicable diseases are isolated, cared for and reported (where legally required to the DOH). Communicable diseases include diseases such as Tuberculosis, Chickenpox, Measles, and Mumps.
Tuberculosis
South Africa has the 5th highest burden of TB in the world. TB is epidemic (i.e. very common) and one of the leading causes of death in our country. The joint HIV/TB epidemic affects all socio-economic classes.
The Student Health Service proactively participate in case-finding by screening all clients and providing health education, diagnose and initiate treatment of smear positive patients, encouraging adherence to treatment through DOTS, and tracing all contacts of TB patients.