School of Nursing Students Conduct Wellness Campaign Geared Towards Curbing Spread of TB in Broadhurst
Third-year students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences recently conducted a tuberculosis (TB) wellness campaign at Ledumang Kgotla in Broadhurst as part of a community project to fulfil the requirements of their BNS 316 (Community Health Nursing Practice) programme.
In his welcome remarks, Ledumang Customary Court Deputy Court President, Kgosi Richard Moleofe, said tuberculosis (TB) was one of the oldest diseases in human history. He urged the community to take care of their health to avoid contracting the disease, adding that for those already living with TB, it is not the end of the world as it could be cured through strict adherence to medical treatment.
Kgosi Moleofe noted that TB was highly prevalent in the 1970s but advancements in medical science had since made it more manageable. He further highlighted that in the past, TB patients were often stigmatised but such attitudes were gradually fading.
For her part, Clinical Nurse Educator at UB, Ms Tshiamo Oduetse, said students attached to a local clinic in Ledumang identified the area as a TB hotspot, prompting the decision to undertake a community awareness campaign. Ms Oduetse explained that TB was once a deadly scourge particularly among HIV patients, before the rollout of free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for people living with HIV.
“I have been reviewing recent statistics which show that this area can record over 20 TB cases annually,” she said. “In 2025 alone, the number has already exceeded 20, which presents a significant threat to the community if not collectively addressed,” added Ms Oduetse.
She said it was on that basis that UB nursing students initiated the project, taking a proactive approach to raise awareness and promote early intervention to help contain the disease. Ms Oduetse expressed appreciation to the students, community leadership and the Ledumang community for embracing the initiative and working together to ensure its success. To enhance the impact of the campaign, several stakeholders participated including the Ministry of Health and private clinics.