Written by The Lusaka REMox TB study team and CAB members, with the support of TB Alliance, commemorated this year’s TB day with the rest of the world on 24th March 2011, under the theme “On the move against Tuberculosis, innovation to accelerate action.”
In line with this theme, the CAB decided to sensitize pupils, the general public and patients to important issues related to TB. The strategy remains focused on increasing awareness among the young people, who represent the future.
The event was held at UTH, Chest Clinic in Woodlands, Lusaka. In attendance were the clinicians working at the clinic, nurses, other UTH staff, pupils from Chinika and New Kanyama Basic schools and their teachers, TB patients, and their relatives.
The main activities at the event included a speech by Dr Chiwele, one of the physicians working at the chest clinic. In his speech he advised TB patients to strictly adhere to their treatment guidelines as way of preventing complications, including relapse and the development of drug-resistant TB, which requires longer treatment and is expensive for both the patient and the health department. He asked relatives of TB patients to offer to critical support and care to the patients who are on treatment and assist by reminding patients to take their medications regularly and completely. He also encouraged the public community members to go for TB screening when they have a cough lasting 2 weeks or more and asked the gathering to consider going for HIV testing, since TB is one of the most common opportunist infections in people living with HIV.
After the speech, two patients gave testimonials on the effectiveness of the treatment and encouraged others to continue taking their medication. Patients who had completed the TB treatment on that day were presented with T-shirts.
Pupils were given a tour of the clinic and an overview of what is involved when would-be patients come for first time, as well as subsequent visits to the clinic. Pupils also had interactive sessions with TB patients, clinicians and other medical staff.
Other activities included a play and traditional dances;, followed by presentation of gifts (World TB Day T-shirts) to patients who had completed TB treatment, pupils, teachers and the entire CC staff members. Pamphlets outlining TB basics were distributed to the participants.
At the end of the program the head nurse of the clinic, Mr. Kashweka, thanked the sponsors, CAB members, patients, and the entire staff of the clinic for attending the event and encouraged them to vigorously move against TB.