REFILWE MEKOA
The Free State Health Research Day was much bigger and better.
This is according to the provincial deputy director, general district health services: Dr Selepe Matela. Her statement is based on research papers presented at the provincial research day at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. She said they needed to create the biggest social movement against TB, HIV/Aids, maternal and neonatal diseases. Matela explained that discussions are far from over and they will meet and reconvene to craft a way forward.
“In Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality we know there is a very high mortality rate as a result of TB, but it also has a very good cure rate. There are those patients who receive treatment in time and get cured. We now know that from the data we have been collecting and the type of research we have been doing. If you get to people on time and put them on treatment there is an excellent cure rate,” said Matela.
She added that most of the findings discussed at the Free State Research Day have already been implemented by the department of health. Matela said they want to translate academic engagement into practice and will not just hold theoretical academic discussions. She added that there is some quick research and then there is a medium to long-term research.
“There is research that doesn’t require money while other research might require money for implementation, for which we have to plan. I think we should start with the quick research, because that is where we will see quick results,” she said.
Matela said they would need to chart a road map regarding research that can be easily implemented at a quick pace.
