In order to help the public gain a better understanding of tuberculosis (TB) and learn how to prevent this deadly infectious disease, as well as to strengthen the effectiveness of Taiwan Centers for Diseases Control’s (Taiwan CDC) Reduction of Tuberculosis by Half in Ten Years plan, Taiwan CDC is organizing a Stop TB Traveling Fair, which is scheduled to be on display in Taoyuan County at the County Government Building from June 30 to July 4, 2008.

The Taoyuan County government has enthusiastically cooperated with Taiwan CDC’s Half in Ten Years plan.These efforts have paid dividends as a reduction in the number of reported TB cases in the county over the past three years.In 2005, 1,110TB cases were reported in Taoyuan County.By 2007, that number dropped to 1,054.Currently, the Taoyuan County Bureau of Health has 43 workers participating in its DOTS program, which, to date, has successfully completed therapy for 720 patients.
Taoyuan County Magistrate, Li-lun Chu, was on hand at the kick-off ceremony for the Taoyuan leg of the Stop TB Traveling Fair.Noting that Taoyuan County serves as a gateway for foreign visitors to Taiwan, Magistrate Chu called on all Taoyuan citizens to educate themselves about measures they could take to prevent TB and help make Taoyuan County a healthier county.In addition, Magistrate Chu also lauded the efforts of all of the DOTS workers whose tireless efforts are important in preventing this disease.At the ceremony, Magistrate Chu singled out some of the Taoyuan County’s DOTS workers for their singular contributions to the DOTS program.

Among those commended by Magistrate Chu was Ms. Feng-juan Xu.One of Ms. Xu’s former patients had multiple-drug resistant TB.The patient was frequently intoxicated and would often hide when Ms. Xu showed up to administer the TB drugs.On one occasion, she even made four trips to his house before she found him. Often, she would wait patiently to confirm that he had indeed swallowed his medicine.

Another DOTS worker, Mr. Cheng-run Peng, was also on hand at the ceremony and received recognition for his efforts.Mr. Peng previously treated a 20-year old TB patient who often stayed at home drinking every day because he was unemployed.The patient was severely criticized and reproached by his family.Nevertheless, Mr. Peng spent a lot of time communicating with the patient and his family, trying to help them work out their problems.He encouraged the family to give the patient the moral, emotional and medical support he needed to overcome TB.Every day, Mr. Peng would travel to the patient’s home just to converse with the patient.With perseverance, Mr. Peng helped the patient complete his therapy routine eventually.

To further strengthen its TB prevention efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2006, announced its Stop TB strategy, which seeks, among other things, to establish a global TB-prevention network, and to reduce, by 2015, the prevalence of and death due to TB by 50% relative to 1990.On World TB Day, Taiwan CDC and the Global Stop TB Partnership issued the〝You and Me Together, We Are Stopping TB. Say Goodbye To TB〞pronouncement, which called on people not to fear TB, to seek early diagnosis when TB symptoms appear, and to treat TB early to prevent further transmission.The initial focus of the Half in Ten Years plan’s prevention efforts is on expanding and enhancing the DOTS program to improve drug compliance among TB patients and to prevent further spread of the deadly disease.In the DOTS program, DOTS workers are responsible for ensuring that TB patients take appropriate dosages of anti-TB medicines at the appropriate times, which have proven to be effective at increasing TB cure rates.

The Stop TB Traveling Fair has six main exhibits:The TB Prevention Maze, The Magic Stop TB Carousel, The TB Cases Free-Fall, The DOTS Express Train, The Stop TB International Cooperation Balloon, and The TB Prevention Video Experience.Through these entertaining exhibits, people can learn all the information they need to know about TB, including the history and current status of the Half in Ten Years program in Taiwan and around the world.People of all ages are invited to attend the Stop TB Traveling Fair and learn more about how you can help stop TB.