Tuberculosis Campaign in villages of Dabil ward

Reduce and treat incidence of TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and other internal organs.  It is dangerous because it can cause severe illness and can be transmitted to others through the air. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal. 

Tanzania is one of the 30 countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world (according to a case study published by WHO in 2020). Tanzania has a National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme aiming at Ending TB in Tanzania. According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2024 the TB incidence rate and number of TB deaths were reduced significantly since 2015: the incidence rate decreased from 306 in 2015 to 183 in 2023, marking a 40% reduction; the number of deaths (counting those with and without HIV-infection) even declined by 68% from 58,000 in 2015 to 18,400 deaths in 2023. 

Karimu cooperates with the Government to prevent suffering from TB and to protect public health in all communities. This requires proper education, screening and treatment. It is Karimu’s part to organize the announcements and ensure that community members are motivated to come for TB screening and testing. 

Therefore, Karimu conducts a Tuberculosis (TB) Outreach initiative aimed at supporting dispensaries and other testing locations, like village offices, in identifying TB cases and providing treatment to clients. The initiative is designed and conducted to reach all communities and educate all community members on the causes, symptoms, and prevention of tuberculosis.

TB information is distributed to community members in all villages and to schools. The goal is to ensure the community is aware of the TB disease and they are coming for screening and for being tested for TB.

The Government takes care of performing the screening, testing and providing medication to the people who are tested positive with TB.

Karimu will cover all costs of this outreach campaign, which is supported and conducted by the local Karimu staff. The Government covers costs for screening, testing and treatment. Communities don’t have to pay for the campaign, nor for testing or treatment. 

The campaign will be documented with the number of people coming to be tested, the number of people tested positive and the number of people referred to health facilities. It will be continued until there is a similar number of positive tests identified during a campaign and outside campaign periods. This will show and ensure that the communities have understood and adapted the need of testing and screening for TB.

Benefits:

• Create or increase awareness for risks of TB for public health

• Conduct regular screening and testing

• Ensure documentation of TB cases and adequate treatment

• Massively reduce and finally eliminate TB in the area 

Cost:

• Karimu cost: $5,967 

• Government covers costs for screening, testing and treatment