Strong communities stop TB and save lives
Across Africa, volunteers are transforming the health of their communities. Their deep knowledge of what people need to keep healthy is shaping the efforts to stop the spread of TB in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Good health starts with strong communities.
At the heart of those communities are committed community health workers (CHWs). They are nominated by their communities, trained and work among them, to tirelessly work to transform people’s health and wellbeing. In Zanzibar, they are driving progress to end tuberculosis (TB).
We urgently need your help to ensure we can train more CHWs to stop the spread of TB and keep communities healthy.
TB in Tanzania: The facts
I am happy when I identify people with tuberculosis since it helps us control the spread of the infection in our community
Meet Magreth Peter
Community Health Workers like Magreth (pictured here) are at the heart of this effort.
She has provided TB community education and services for two years, serving a typical coastal village. Here, most homes do not have running water, an indoor toilet, or electricity. Four or five families share small living spaces.
She visits these homes, markets, taxi stands and mining sites, searching for TB patients and teaching people about TB, its symptoms, and the importance of seeking treatment. Her efforts are crucial in detecting new cases and encouraging treatment to prevent the disease from spreading.
Could you chip in now and help us train more CHWs like Magreth – it takes just 2 minutes.
Magreth and the other CHWs she works alongside know that the only way to end TB is to leave no-one behind.
That’s why Amref works with CHWs and many other community champions and peer educators to create powerful voices for TB awareness, prevention and advice in the community.
The power of community
Bi Hawa is a community champion who was supported through TB infection by a CHW like Magreth.
Now, having recovered from TB, she is a motivated and committed champion who knows every household in her community and uses that knowledge to identify early stages of TB infection, pointing those people to get rapid diagnosis, and helping them access treatment.
Importantly, champions and CHWs like Bi Hawa and Magreth also understand what people’s fears are in getting diagnosed with TB and accessing treatment. Knowing these fears gives them the power they need to support people getting the services they need.
In this way, they help to stop TB infection in its tracks. Your support today could help them reach more people - making a direct difference to their lives.
We need to act now. Could you help us transform the health and wellbeing of communities like Bi Hawa’s by donating today?
All images above © Amref Health Africa/Sam Vox