On March 24, countries around the world celebrated World TB Day 2023. The theme chosen by the WHO for this year was “Yes we can end tuberculosis”. Here are some of the initiatives conducted in our region to this end.
NIGER
A televised radio address was given the day before by the Acting Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, then the activities took place on the day itself in two stages. The first consisted in celebrating the day in a TB clinic on the outskirts of Niamey, in an area where promiscuity and many other TB risk factors are found, in order to raise awareness among the population. The second step was to hold a conference-debate on TB for students from the capital’s seven health schools.
MALI
In Mali, after an official launch ceremony under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Social Development, awareness-raising programs were organized on various television channels in the country, to inform the population of the benefits of early TB diagnosis and free anti-tuberculosis treatment. Finally, a visit was made to the Pneumo-Phtisiology Department of the CHU du Point G.
SAO-TOME et PRINCIPE
World TB Day was celebrated with particular emphasis on integrating TB patients into their families. To this end, an activity entitled “living together with TB patients in Sao Tomé and Principe” was organized. The activity brought together the PNLT team, the management of Ayres de Menezes Hospital, technicians from the phthisiology department and patients treated for TB. The aim of the activity was to improve psychosocial support for patients, for better integration with their families.