SUBSCRIBE
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

TB survivor’s painful road to recovery

by Noluthando Ngcakani
16th March 2022
in Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Joffery Jack from Worcester survived MDR-TB and has become a mouthpiece for TB awareness. He shows what his damaged lungs used to look like. He is now healthy and looks forward to one more check-up in June. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Joffery Jack from Worcester survived MDR-TB and has become a mouthpiece for TB awareness. He shows what his damaged lungs used to look like. He is now healthy and looks forward to one more check-up in June. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“Your recovery from tuberculosis (TB) is not complete until you share your journey with others, so that we can bring an end to TB.”

These are the sentiments of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB survivor Joffrey Jack. The 43-year-old Worcester native is on a mission to share his recovery experience in the hope that it might encourage TB patients to remain faithful to their treatment.

A beaming Joffrey Jack shows off the certificate he received after diligently taking medication for MDR-TB. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“I told myself that my journey with TB won’t be complete until I become a mouthpiece for it, because people don’t take their health seriously,” says Jack. 

According to the Western Cape department of health, TB is a leading underlying natural cause of death in the province.

Ongoing tuberculosis crisis

In September of 2020, Jack experienced Covid-19 symptoms but tested negative.

A couple of months later he was again tested for Covid-19 – this time the result was positive. He recovered, but in April 2021 he started coughing up blood.

“I drove myself to the hospital. They took X-rays and after some time confirmed that I had MDR-TB. On the X-ray you could clearly see damage to one of my lungs.”

He is not sure how he contracted MDR-TB, but is thankful that no one else in his family tested positive.

Globally MDR-TB kills thousands of people each day. There is an urgent need for communities to partner with healthcare workers to find, treat and end the disease.

Be wise and don’t default

TB spreads when someone with the disease who is not aware of his disease or who is not taking his medication, coughs. When others inhale the droplets expelled by the cough, they can get TB.

Someone with TB may experience chest pains and cough up blood, like Jack, as well as severe sweating in the night and unexplained weight loss. During the time Jack had MDR-TB, he lost 32kg.

Initially he had to take 28 pills a day. He daily went to Worcester Community Day Centre and later on was given the responsibility of taking his medication at home.

“I quickly realised that if I see this through or not, would depend on ME. I had to find a way to make this work,” says Jack.

Taking his medication with water made him nauseous. He eventually found that taking it with juice made it easier on his body, but, he asks, “how many people have the means to do this?”

Poor adherence to treatment means patients remain infectious for longer, are more likely to relapse or succumb to tuberculosis and could result in treatment failure as well as foster emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

While he had MDR-TB, he often felt lightheaded and achy. His progress was continually monitored, and his medication adjusted accordingly.

Today his face beams when he says he is fully recovered – even the damage TB did to his lung. 

“Know the symptoms,” he says. “Also, surround yourself with people who will support you. It doesn’t help to be diagnosed, but then the person next to you breaks you down. When we heard I had MDR-TB, my wife immediately said that we would go on this journey together. I am very grateful to her and staff like Dr Steyn, Sr Felix and Sr Wilson at Worcester Community Day Centre for their encouragement.”

Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats, fatigue or tiredness.

Easy ways to prevent TB:

  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Open a window or door for fresh air.
  • Cough in your elbow.
  • Go to your clinic if you notice symptoms, or if you need help to restart your TB treatment.

*March is TB Awareness Month. World TB Day is observed on 24 March.

ALSO READ: Prioritise HIV prevention injection, activists say

Tags: Covid-19 vaccineDepartment of HealthHealthTuberculosis
Noluthando Ngcakani

Noluthando Ngcakani

Related Articles

Kombucha
My Health

Kombucha: The tangy tea that’s good for your gut

by Candice Khumalo and Vateka Halile
17th June 2025
Trending

Stem cell hero: How one decision changed Mfundo’s world

by Staff Reporter
16th June 2025

Stories

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites
Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics
Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy
Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen
No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches
How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth
Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing
Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers
No Result
View All Result

Latest

Kombucha
My Health

Kombucha: The tangy tea that’s good for your gut

by Candice Khumalo and Vateka Halile
17th June 2025

Kombucha is the tart and fizzy tea drink taking the world by storm. But is it all that? Experts say...

Read moreDetails

From farm to fork: How red meat fuels jobs and plates across SA

17th June 2025

Stem cell hero: How one decision changed Mfundo’s world

16th June 2025
Nutrition

Students want to eat well, but can’t afford to

13th June 2025
Sustainable red meat: Healthy farms, healthy people

Sustainable red meat: Healthy farms, healthy people

12th June 2025
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Awards & Impact
Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy
Copyright

Somagwaza

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites

cropped-scott-webb-yekGLpc3vro-unsplash.jpeg

Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics

Dr Sinethemba Makanya

Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy

Kombucha: The tangy tea that’s good for your gut

From farm to fork: How red meat fuels jobs and plates across SA

Stem cell hero: How one decision changed Mfundo’s world

Students want to eat well, but can’t afford to

Sustainable red meat: Healthy farms, healthy people

Top tips to grow the perfect peppers

error: Content is protected !!
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
    • Health Heroes
    • TV
  • Grow It
  • My Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

HIV and initiation: Supporting boys through cultural rites Security fails as gangs target Eastern Cape clinics Dr Makanya blends spiritual healing with art therapy Canola oil: A heart-healthy choice for your kitchen No more pain! Tackle the torment of toothaches How smoking causes harmful bacteria in your mouth Discover delicious, healthy dishes that will make your heart sing Rediscover the joy of creamy pap with chicken livers