Echoing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme for its 2010 global tuberculosis strategy—innovate to accelerate action—Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has tapped into Taiwan’s traditional opera culture to help spread the word about TB prevention and control efforts.On May 9, 2010, the Taiwan CDC adaptation of the classic Chinese opera tale, Madame White Snake, opened at a land readjustment area, which was previously a railway station, in Hualien City for its final performance.This creative performance emphasizes the importance of everyone working together to fight TB by supporting patients and encouraging them to complete their drug regimen so that the spread of this disease can be halted.

The Hualien County magistrate, Fu Kun-Chi, well understands the importance of TB prevention and control.At the Hualien performance, he appeared on stage in full costume to recite a special “Fight TB” poem at the Taiwan CDC’s Madame White Snake performance to remind the attendees that TB can be prevented and treated, that two weeks of drug treatment renders TB non-infectious, and that six-months of drug treatment can produce a full recovery.He also called on everyone to show their concern for TB patients and help fight TB.

Data indicates that, in Hualien, from 2005 through 2008, there was a 23.7% reduction in the TB incidence rate and a 26.3% reduction in TB related deaths.These results speak volumes about the effectiveness of the Taiwan CDC’s “Mobilization Plan to Halve Tuberculosis Incidence in Ten Years”.However, the TB incidence and related deaths in the eastern region of Taiwan remain relatively high. Therefore, everyone’s effort is needed to enhance the effectiveness of TB prevention and control programs.

Hualien County is the last stop for the Taiwan CDC’s TB operatic performance series.In addition to the current performance in the eastern region of Taiwan, the series has already made stops in the central, northern and southern regions of Taiwan.At each stop, hundreds of enthusiastic local citizens turned out to learn more about TB.Taiwan CDC calls on everyone to work together and continue supporting the efforts to prevent and control this disease.