Sello Mavimbela has been working as a healthcare worker (HCW) in tuberculosis (TB) management in South Africa for 28 years. Through the ASCENT project, he has been using digital adherence technology (DAT), specifically the smart pillbox from EvriMed, to support his patients completing their treatment successfully. In this video Mavimbela talks about his view on DAT for TB treatment.

Mavimbela says: “The most challenging indicator to our targets is when we don’t reach the success rate of 90% because of problems with the adherence.” He explains there’s multiple reason why patients struggle taking their medication accordingly, such as social-economic problems, poor adherence counseling and a lack of information.

Mavimbela states DATs have been helpful since they have been introduced is his line of work. “It is easy to use, easy to monitor patients. The platform that we use to monitor patients, is user-friendly as well. And the patients are also happy about using the smart pillbox, because it provides them with the security of taking care of their medication. And reminding them of the times when they should take their treatment is very helpful to them.”

Watch the video by our consortium partner The Aurum Institute here:

The Unitaid-funded and supported ASCENT project in South Africa is led by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation together with The Aurum Institute and in partnership with London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and PATH.