Some aspects of traditional beliefs as they affect tuberculosis treatment.

ness have been set out in the objectives. All relevent inform ation is collected from the authorities and clinics in the field and com pared with the objectives. The team then decides w hether the ob­ jectives will be achieved, partially achieved or not achieved. The problem s that have been found are investigated and the action necessary to alleviate them is decided upon. The very im por­ tant aspect of controlling the quality of nursing care is carried out in the same m anner provided an objective has been set to determ ine this. If not, quality is controlled by formal individual evalua­ tion. Financial control is carried out by the assessment of a variety of com puterised print-outs. Projections are m ade to as­ certain the expected expenditure by the end of a given financial year for each authority rendering a tuberculosis ser­ vice in the region. A ny over-expendi­ ture or under-expenditure is investi­ gated and corrected to ensure that the allocated funds are not exceeded. The m anagem ent team also makes provision to curb over-expenditure resulting from practices such as overclaim ing on subsi­ dies and hoarding of medicines and vac­ cines. Statistical data regarding the epi­ demiological trends of the various types of tuberculosis are m onitored and eva­ luated regularly. A change in the trend may necessitate a revision of the action plan and/or the objectives. The com munity health nurse is the ideal person to becom e a m em ber of the tuberculosis m anagem ent team because she has developed an excellent sense of responsibility by being the key m em ber concerned with the health of the com ­ munity in a specific geographical area. She has the ability to analyse and react to health problem s, to foster team -spirit and to stim ulate enthusiasm am ong collegues. H er experience in planning and arranging program m es in her area is in­ valuable. The fu ture tuberculosis nurse m anager needs the skills, abilities and experience of the com m unity health nurse.