Six REMoxTB clinical trial sites in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia commemorated World TB Day through the TB Alliance's Community Engagement Program. Community Advisory Boards (CABs) organized local or regional events to raise awareness about tuberculosis, including the importance of getting tested, adhering to treatment, and the need for new technologies to address the epidemic.
In Moshi, Tanzania, the Kibong’oto National TB Hospital opened its doors for a week-long exhibition, inviting community members to learn about hospital services, research and every aspect of diagnosing and treating TB patients. By providing opportunities for community to visit and ask questions, this activity raised awareness of the TB treatment and research processes, and worked to break down barriers between the patient community and those who provide healthcare and conduct research.
In Lusaka, Zambia, the University Teaching Hospital CAB, organized a community-wide event at a local secondary school, and educated participants about TB disease, treatment and research through interactive methods; such as drama, dance, and Q&A games.
Regional marches were organized in Nairobi, Kenya and Mbeya, Tanzania with the CABs at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and at the Mbeya Medical Research Program in partnership with other local NGOs, together raising awareness about TB disease and research, and strengthening the fight against TB.
The Aurum Institute CAB, in Klerksdorp, South Africa organized a town hall meeting to educate the general community about infection control and the spread of TB, inviting students, teachers, DOT supporters, local NGO members and representatives from the general community. This town hall also strengthened local knowledge and awareness about TB disease, treatment and research.
Moshi, Tanzania
Kibong’oto National TB Hospital World TB Day Celebration
by Jackline Ndenshau and Isack Lekule
March 24th commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the cause of the tuberculosis, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Every year this day is used to promote awareness in the community that tuberculosis remain an epidemic in much of the world to this day, causing deaths of several million people each year, mostly the developing countries.
For World TB Day 2010, the the Kibong’oto TB Hospital held a week long exhibition, explaining practices relating to TB diagnosis, treatment and research as well as issues relating to TB/HIV coinfection.These activities attracted health care workers, community members, and TB patients. To mark the last day of the exhibition, the Siha District Commissioner was invited as guest of honor. Other guests included the Kilimanjaro Regional Medical Officer and the Regional TB and Leprosy Coordinator. All District Medical Officers, TB & Leprosy Coordinators from Kilimanjaro region and nearby villages, schools, churches and mosque also attended.
Together, the Kibong’oto Hospital Community Department, and the REMoxTB Community Advisory Board prepared posters and messages, local radio advertisements, loud speaker, church, and mosque announcements to inform the community about the event and to share messages about TB symptoms, encouraging people to come for screening and education.
The exhibition featured several departments of the Kibong’oto Hospital:
- Clinical and Nursing Departments: provided information about the clinical management of TB and offered voluntary screening services to participants.
- Volunteer Counselling and Testing: offered education and HIV testing
- Laboratory Department: featured microscopy, allowed participants an opportunity to look at TB bacilli under the microscope.
- Radiology: exhibited X-ray examples of TB (cavitation, infiltrations, pleural effusion, etc)
- Pharmacy: taught community members about TB treatment
- Research Department: provided information about ongoing clinical studies
Educational posters about TB disease, and the responsibilities of patients, families, and communities in TB control, were also displayed. A question and answer session was also conducted, with prizes for those who learned the most.
Through this event, hospital staff and the community fully participated in World TB Day by raising awareness about TB disease, treatment and research. Both the hospital staff and community members left motivated to learn more, and take a more active part in the fight against TB. 180 people volunteered to be screened for TB, and those who were found to have TB and were started on treatment. There was media coverage of this event in Television, radio and newspapers.
Lusaka, Zambia
University Teaching Hospital – World TB Day Celebration
by Deborah Mushamba
The Lusaka REMox study team together with CAB members commemorated this year’s World TB Day on the 24th of March 2010. Under the theme “On the move against Tuberculosis, innovation to accelerate action”, the groups organized an event to increase awareness among the community about TB disease, treatment and research, and the challenges facing policy makers, researchers, health workers, patients and the general community in the fight against TB.
The CAB decided to “move against TB” by sensitizing pupils at one of the high schools in Lusaka as a way of increasing awareness among the young people, with an eye toward the future. The event was held at Chinika High in Kanyama Township. In attendance were the school head teacher, Mrs.Selina Mizinga, the teaching staff, pupils and the members of the surrounding community. Approximately 200 people attended the event in total.
The main activities at the event included a skits, traditional dances, and an interactive Q&A session followed by presentation of gifts (World TB day t-shirts) to pupils who got correct answers to TB questions asked.
Pamphlets outlining TB basics were distributed to members of the audience.
At the end of the program, CAB members thanked the school manager, the pupils and members of the community and encouraged them to help stop TB by spreading the correct information in the communities and also encouraging their family and friends to seek treatment early.
Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
by Jane Ong’ang’o
In the Kibera township of Nairobi, the REMoxTB Community Advisory Board, in partnership with The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), local NGOs and district health officials, organized a march and a community gathering at the Kibera Health Centre, to raise awareness about TB drug research and to engage community stakeholders in the fight against TB.
Mbeya, Tanzania
Mbeya Medical Research Programme (MMRP)
by Erica Sanga and Nyanda Ntinginya
National Institute of Medical Research, MMRP participated in a regional celebration in Inyala, Tanzania together with its CAB, previous TB patients, representatives of MMRP studies, district health officials from Mbeya city, and REMoxTB research staff.
The groups marched with banners and distributed educational materials and brochures to the community participants, sharing messages about TB disease, treatment and research, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment adherence.
Klerksdorp, South Africa
Aurum Health Institute – World TB Day Commemorations
The Community Advisory Board, representing four townships surrounding the Aurum Institue (Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartebeesfontein [KOSH]), commemorated World TB day on the March 23, 2010 at the Kanana Township, a location within Matlosana, with an audience of 300 community members in attendance. The community audience was made up of students, teachers, DOT supporters, local NGO members and general community members.
Researchers, local NGOs, DOT supporters and traditional healers spoke about their work in TB control, treatment compliance, advocacy, education, and research. The site adapted the global World TB day theme “On the Move Against Tuberculosis: Innovate to Accelerate Action. I am against TB.” “Ek is teen TB. Ke kgatlhanong le lefiba"
The objectives of the event were as follows:
· To educate the general community about infection control and the spread of TB.
· To strengthen and increase community TB awareness
· To increase students’ knowledge on TB with the aim of resuscitating school health programmes.
· To make use World TB day as a prelude event to the Kick TB 2010 event
Entertainment was provided by traditional dancers, traditional healers and staff from the Aurum Institute.
Brits, South Africa
Madibeng Centre for Research – Commemoration of World TB Day
On World TB Day, 2010, Madibeng Centre for Research worked to raise TB awareness under the slogan “The Fight Against TB Can Be Won”.
The awareness campaign was taken to a community reported to have a high TB incidence, but often neglected by health related activities. The people in this community, Damonsville, are often afraid to come out because of the stigma attached to TB.
The awareness campaign was organized in conjunction with a local school in the community and the senior high school children were encouraged to invite their families to attend the activities. Those who took part in the events included Madibeng Centre for Research staff, CAG members, singers, traditional dancers and poets to build awareness of TB and TB research.
The following were the campaign’s key messages:
- Support people suffering with TB
- Research is currently being conducted to find new means of treating TB
- Support for TB further research is needed