People of Tshwane informed of TB
On 22 March 2011, the Thabo Mwale Foundation worked with representatives of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to host a public event to bring awareness of Tuberculosis (TB) to the community. Over 350 gathered in Ga-Rankuwa Sports Ground to hear more about TB, in particular, how simple infection control measures, such as opening widows at home and on public transport, especially in taxis, to allow air to circulate could protect the public from infectious TB and help save lives. The Department, as part of its TB awareness drive, hosted a TB information session for taxi operators, to educate them on the management and prevention measures of TB.
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Ms J Maluleke TB coordinator gave an outline of the purpose of the event. Thabo Mwale, a TB ambassador of Tshwane and founder of Thabo Mwale TB Foundation gave personal testimony of living with TB and conquering this disease. Thabo (in photo on right) told people that he is now surviving with one lung after he defaulted TB medication because of a lack of knowledge about the disease. His message, that fighting TB is the responsibility of everyone.
The key note address was given by Cllr Segabutle who stated the symptoms of TB and its preventable measures. Here he is talking with a community development worker (left).
Thabo, who participated in the Advocacy Partnership TB advocacy training near Cape Town in August 2009 has been working with local political leaders to put TB on their agendas and is working with taxi owners and operatives on infection control measures for their cabs. The World TB Day event followed the recent launch of the TB sticker campaign held by the City of Tshwane’s Health and Social Development Department with taxi drivers at the beginning of March, which was aimed at creating awareness on ventilation and proper cough etiquette, given that TB is an airborne disease. In the photo on the right key leaders gather at the launch of the campaign.
The Thabo Mwale TB Foundation is a member of the Stop TB Partnership.
For more information contact Mr Thabo Mwale on 072 154 1889 or email to thaboally@ymail.com.
Lilly MDR TB Partnership in India: International journalists participate in MDR-TB study tour to India
A Media Study Tour to India which included Journalists from Germany, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and The Netherlands was organized by the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership to inform and educate international journalists on the TB burden in India, the specific challenges being faced and how these are being overcome to prevent the further spread of TB and MDR-TB.
Day 1 began with a briefing session, where journalists had a chance to interact and listen to experts and partners working collaboratively in India. They also met with representatives of the Indian Medical Association, TB Alert India, Maharashtra Anti TB Association, and Technology Transfer partner Shasun, a patient advocate, TB experts, with many of NGO partners and also had a chance to interact with Prof. Lee Reichman who talked about the Global scenario, the specific TB Burden in India and also the role of the media.
Day 2 saw the team visit the RBTB Hospital, one of the largest TB hospitals in Asia and now a DOTS PLUS site, and interview doctors, nurses and patients about their first-hand experiences. Prof Lee Reichman along with the Health Commissioner for Delhi inaugurated the MDR TB Clinic at the RBTB hospital. The visitors also had a chance to interact with the children of the patients at the hospital who are taken care of at the Crèche in the RBTB hospital.
The team then visited DOTS centres run by TB Alert and interacted with the support groups (women volunteers who work as DOTS Providers, increase awareness and also mobilise housewives in the community), cured patients and patients on treatment. Journalists also visited schools where awareness raising activities help the children take home messages on TB and MDR TB to their families. The tour was completed with a visit to a microscopy centre, where journalists interacted with patients, learned about programme recording and reporting and how the records were maintained.
Day one breifing
Field visit TB Alert
Chest Clinic in Delhi
RBTB Hospital ward Visit in Delhi.
The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership Photo Essay Exhibition - India
In the last twenty years, video and film have become the predominant forms of modern storytelling. But before video, there was photography. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." The objective behind the project is to personalize and put a human face to TB and MDRTB and the fight against it.
The photographer has harnessed the power of storytelling to bring out the challenges faced by the patients and their care givers, the sheer grit and determination of ordinary people to cure themselves and the underlying belief and hope in the power of modern medicine. The series of black and white photographs paints a comprehensive picture of the complex realities and also conveys the strong sense of Hope.
The Photographer: Subhash Sharma, is a freelance photographer based in Mumbai, India, contributing to various publications, specializing in humanistic and documentary photography. To capture the "Magic of everyday life", the day to day existence of ordinary unimportant people who despite their hardships face life with utmost dignity and courage, photographing them in their daily environment and circumstances is what gives him the utmost joy and fulfillment
The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership takes this opportunity to thank all the people for supporting the project by agreeing to be photographed for it.
See the Full Essay Exhibition Brochure.