March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day and to commemorate this occasion, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) kicked off its “On The Move Against TB” health education campaign by urging innovation to accelerate action against this disease and urging the public to support and encourage treatment adherence to control tuberculosis.
A major focus of Taiwan CDC’s “Reduction of Tuberculosis by Half in Ten Years (2006-2015)” program is strengthening coordination between public health, laboratory testing and medical care networks to identify and treat TB patients.Under this program, TB incidence rates dropped from 16,000 in 2006 to 13,400 in 2009—a 20% reduction.TB is statutorily classified as a communicable disease and should not be taken lightly.A number of measures are in place to contain and treat TB, including the DOTs program, special treatment protocols for multi-drug resistant TB patients, and restrictions on air travel for infectious TB patients.In many cases, TB infections result in asymptomatic, latent infections.About five- to ten-percent of latent cases progress to active disease.Early treatment of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) is a major policy focus as this can effectively reduce the chance of progression of LTBI into active TB.
Taiwan CDC has invited a former TB patient, “Ke Mama”, to share her firsthand experience with the disease.At the same time Ms. Ke was diagnosed with leukemia, she was also found to have contracted TB.This double diagnosis dejected Ms. Ke and her family members.Her husband and children told her how important she was to them and urged her to do all she can to rid herself of the diseases.Ms. Ke promised them that she would follow her doctor’s orders and adhere to her daily drug treatment regime.After nine months of treatment, Ms. Ke’s TB was defeated.
Ms. Ke was philosophical about her bout with TB, saying that God helped her overcome this challenge because he had a more important mission in store for her.She attributed her success in overcoming TB to her firm conviction and the support of her family.She also noted that patients are not the only ones who need support; family members and friends also need encouragement.To fully recover, patients need unwavering support of family and friends.
Taiwan CDC has kicked off a series of activities to encourage innovation to accelerate action against TB.The planned activities include a special TB email flyer, special downloadable MSN emoticons, establishment of a phone call network for patients, and special sticky threads for placement on blogs.All citizens are encouraged to participate in these activities and join the battle against TB.More information is available on http://www.2010TB.com.tw.
This week, Taiwan CDC also implemented a series of campus-based activities to prevent and control TB in schools.At a March 24 press conference, students from Shih Chien University performed a skit aimed at raising awareness of TB and putting a human face on this often misunderstood disease.
Drug treatment adherence and support from family and friends are two of the most important factors to a successful recovery from TB.Two weeks of drug treatment typically renders the TB non-communicable.Additionally, in as short as six months of additional treatment, TB can be cured.With everyone’s support Taiwan CDC hopes to realize the goals of its ten year program.