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.Taiwan CDC has invited The Lan Yang Opera Group to put on a series of performances in the northern, southern, eastern and central regions of the country.These original performances will urge the public to support and encourage treatment adherence to control tuberculosis.
The number of new TB cases in Taiwan decreased by approximately 20-percent between 2005 (with 16,000 new cases) and 2009 (with 13,400 new cases).During this period, the TB mortality rate also decreased by 30-percent,from 4.3 TB deaths per 100,000 people to 3.0 TB deaths per 100,000 people.These results speak volumes about the effectiveness of Taiwan CDC’s “Mobilization Plan to Halve Tuberculosis Incidence in Ten Years”.However, TB still is statutorily classified as a communicable disease and should not be taken lightly.
To reduce misperceptions and stigmas associated with TB and to educate citizens about disease prevention, Taiwan CDC invited the internationally renowned Lan Yang Opera Group to put on a series of performances in the northern (Yilan County), central (Taichung City), southern (Pingtung County) and eastern (Hualien County) regions of the country.The original performance is based on an adaptation of the classic Chinese opera tale, Madame White Snake.Through an accessible and entertaining narrative, the performance provides the attendees with accurate and important information about TB prevention and control.In the form of a “Fight TB” poem, attendees are reminded 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.
With the performance series kicking off in Yilan, the Yilan County Magistrate, Mr. Lin Cong-Xian, was invited to lend his voice to recite the Fight TB poem.He also called on citizens to work together and innovate to accelerate action against TB.
The traditional Chinese opera performance series kicked off on April 17, 2010 and will run through May 9, 2010.Attendees will have a chance to win a number of prizes, including a folding bicycle.Taiwan CDC encourages everyone to join the festivities and join the fight against TB.