For many years, communication initiatives led by the Community System to End TB (CSET) - a community network founded by SCDI in 2021 - have moved beyond awareness-raising, creating spaces where people can share, connect, and actively engage in TB prevention and care.

On this year’s World TB Day, CSET members in Nghe An province organized a community-driven communication event under the theme “Communities taking action to end TB.” The event brought together people affected by TB, their families, individuals at higher risk, and representatives from the Nghe An Lung Hospital, health centers, authorities, SCDI, and SSDC.

Through skits, interactive games, and knowledge contests, TB-related information was translated into formats that were accessible, relatable, and grounded in lived experience. Importantly, stories about stigma, shared by community members themselves, helped surface a critical barrier in TB response while fostering empathy and understanding toward people undergoing treatment.

Photo: Community members shared TB prevention and control messages in ways that were accessible, relatable, and easy to understand.

Photo: Local people attentively read a poster about stigma reduction for people affected by tuberculosis

This is where community systems make a difference. With a strong understanding of local needs, CSET members are able to design practical, context-appropriate initiatives that not only make TB information more accessible, but also help address barriers to screening and treatment adherence, while narrowing the gap between communities and health services.

These experiences show that effective TB responses extend beyond medical interventions, and are also shaped by trust, access, and social support. When communities are empowered to participate and drive change, barriers to TB prevention and care can gradually be removed, which will contribute to more sustainable local responses and supports the broader goal of ending tuberculosis in Viet Nam by 2030.