S. Africa has high burden of tuberculosis: deputy president

South Africa ranks among the 22 high-burden countries that collectively contribute around 80 percent of global tuberculosis cases, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.

Ramaphosa made the remarks at a rally in Lephalalein, Limpopo province, marking World Tuberculosis Day, which falls on March 24 each year.

The rally is jointly held with the African Union, demonstrating their shared responsibility of working together to end Tuberculosis across the continent, according to Ramaphosa.

"South Africa will never win the battle against HIV and AIDS if it does not also prioritize the detection and treatment of TB (tuberculosis)," Ramaphosa said.

Figures show TB/HIV co-infection stands at 55 percent in South Africa.

Ramaphosa also launched the first National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey in South Africa.

"We expect the survey to be concluded within two years, and look forward to getting a truer indication of our TB burden," he said.

Last year, South Africa launched a tuberculosis screening campaign and since then nearly 5,000 people have been tested to be infected with tuberculosis.

South Africa's mine inspectors say that 90 percent of the 246 "controlled mines" in the country are providing tuberculosis test services to their employees.

"We encourage those infected with this very contagious disease to bring those they had close contact with, especially family members and co-workers, to our clinics to be tested for TB," Ramaphosa said. Endit