Publications
Partners
- David Macana, a North West resident, was diagnosed with tuberculosis at the ages of 29, 33 and 37.
- He worked as a mineworker for 14 years, and his challenging job as a gold explosive operator contributed to his three diagnoses.
- Having beaten the odds, Macana took to the podium on World TB Day to let others know that surviving the bacterial infection is possible.
- GOOD NEWS DAY IS BACK! News24 celebrates the people restoring pride in our country. Read their stories here
Former mineworker David Macana fought hard to overcome a pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis - not just once, but three times - and is now determined to ensure that other people also beat the odds and overcome the bacterial disease.
Macana was first diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at the age of 29, and for a second time when he was 33.
These diagnoses were most likely linked to his job as a gold miner working with explosives, a career he was involved in for 14 years.
A year after leaving the mining industry, at 37, Macana said he could not believe it when he was diagnosed with TB for a third time.
This diagnosis was his most testing as the disease had initially started as pulmonary TB. Still, seven months into the treatment, he was diagnosed with a harsher form of TB meningitis.
Tuberculous meningitis is much more deadly than the pulmonary strain as it indicates the bacteria has spread beyond the lungs, and infected the brain and spine.
READ | How good is your province at curing the most drug resistant TB? Check this interactive map
Macana said this diagnosis was challenging because he had to wake up and take 24 pills each day to treat the disease. The recovery was more difficult because he had to isolate himself from his family and friends for months.
"I was hospitalised for nine months... It was difficult because I was isolated. Such isolation brought a lot of pressure on me. I could adhere to my treatment through the education provided to my family and friends. Each morning, I had to take about 24 pills," Macana told News24 with a scratchy voice that speaks of the damage the disease has caused.
TB diagnoses are a regular occurrence for mineworkers in parts of the North West, where mining forms the primary economic lifeline for many jobseekers in the province.
'What your mind can conceive, it can achieve'
Macana said that, despite the health equipment provided to mineworkers, the harsh conditions underground - the heat and sweat - created the perfect conditions for them to contract the disease.
He said most of the TB diagnoses in mineworkers were from the gold mining industry. Added to this disease was silicosis, a condition that attacks a person's lungs like TB.
Macana added that his focus had now shifted to ensuring people check their health status, get treatment, and complete it.
He spoke to News24 on 24 March at the Department of Health's World TB Day event in Rustenburg, North West. His speech spoke to what he believes is necessary to create more awareness about TB, treating it, and making people believe they can overcome it.
Macana's advocacy work is focused on educating mineworkers on the importance of staying the course and completing their treatments if diagnosed with TB.
He said:
The former mineworker turned TB ambassador says he believes that the mind offers powers to overcome even the most challenging situations.
"What your mind can conceive and live, it can achieve. Every one of us, if we can conceive a positive attitude in terms of TB, we can fight it."
