On March 24, SCDI joined the Krông Pa District Health Center (Gia Lai province) to organize a series of events celebrating World Tuberculosis Day, including a meeting and a community-led outreach initiative (carried out by the Community System To End TB – CSET). The event brought together representatives from Gia Lai Lung Hospital, Gia Lai Tuberculosis Hospital, Krông Pa District Health Center, SCDI representatives in Gia Lai, CSET members from Krông Pa and Ia Pa districts, tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment, their families, and local people.

At the meeting, Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Huong, SCDI’s Project Officer in Gia Lai, shared key highlights of SCDI’s efforts in supporting tuberculosis prevention in the region. In 2024, through the CSET network and close collaboration with local healthcare facilities, SCDI supported 87 tuberculosis patients in Krông Pa and Ia Pa districts to adhere to treatment, with 31 patients completing their treatment and 30 cases classified as successful. To ease the financial burden of treatment and ensure patients could focus on recovery, SCDI also provided cash assistance to 18 patients to help them purchase nutritious food.

Photo: Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Huong, SCDI’s Project Officer in Gia Lai, shared key highlights of SCDI’s efforts in supporting TB prevention in the region 

Additionally, the local CSET members successfully organized 50 small-group knowledge-sharing sessions with 355 attendees, including patients’ families and community members. These sessions covered essential tuberculosis knowledge and guided attendees through the diagnosis and treatment process at local healthcare facilities. Furthermore, 1,500 tuberculosis prevention handbooks were distributed to local healthcare centers, CSET volunteers, patients, and the wider community. These communication efforts have played a vital role in raising awareness and improving tuberculosis prevention in the area.

A major highlight of this year’s World Tuberculosis Day activities in Gia Lai was CSET’s community outreach initiative held in Krông Pa, on the afternoon of March 24. This initiative aimed to enhance community awareness of tuberculosis prevention, reduce stigma and discrimination against TB patients, and strengthen efforts in prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient support.

One of the standout activities was a tuberculosis knowledge competition featuring three teams: Bình Minh (Sunrise), Cộng Đồng Khỏe (Healthy Community), and Lá Chắn Xanh (Green Shield), with a total of 12 participants. Contestants included two CSET members in Krông Pa, a village health worker, and individuals at risk of tuberculosis or relatives of TB patients.

The competition consisted of three rounds: Warm-up, Talent, and Final sprint. In the “Warm-up” round, teams answered questions about tuberculosis, latent TB treatment, prevention methods, and nutritional support for TB patients in the community. The “Talent” round challenged teams to create illustrated posters delivering anti-TB messages. The “Final sprint” required teams to tackle real-life case scenarios and propose solutions.

Photo: Participants stayed highly focused during the game

Photo: Team members collaborated effectively through each round

At the end of the competition, Lá Chắn Xanh (Green Shield) took first place, Bình Minh (Sunrise) secured second, and Cộng Đồng Khỏe (Healthy Community) came in third.

In addition to the competition, event organizers also showcased images highlighting CSET’s work in supporting tuberculosis patients, community outreach campaigns for at-risk individuals, and inspiring stories from patients who received care and assistance.

Photo:  A booth displaying photos and communication materials about CSET's activities