Echoing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme for its 2010 global tuberculosis strategy, innovate to accelerate action, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has adopted “On The Move Against Tuberculosis” as the focus of its World TB Day (March 24) campaign this year, which urges the public to support and encourage treatment adherence to control tuberculosis.

According to the statistical data collected by Taiwan CDC over the recent five years, approximately 300 schoolchildren or adolescents contract TB every year.Since some schools have previously reported TB infections, TB control on campuses will therefore figure prominently into World TB Day activities, which is taking place during the week of March 22 through March 26, 2010.Schools will be encouraged to utilize various promotion channels available on their campuses to deliver the campaign messages.SBL superstar and recovered TB patient, Zi-yang Deng, is invited to participate in the campaign and share his personal experiences with TB during his third year of senior high school.

In 2006, as the rear guard and the captain of the Tai Shan High School basketball team, Mr. Deng led his team to claim 2nd place in the Qing Ying Cup basketball tournament.When the team was preparing to move on to the national High School League Championship (HSLC), Mr. Deng began coughing up blood. A physician confirmed that he had infectious TB that could have cut short Mr. Deng’s beloved career as a basketball star.To hasten his return to the basketball court, Mr. Deng strictly adhered to his drug treatment regimen and regularly visited his physician.Two weeks later, Mr. Deng was no longer infectious and was able to return to his team in time for the HSLC tournament.Even after returning to the court, Mr. Deng continued his TB treatment for a few more months, exemplifying the spirit of determination necessary to beat the disease and lead his teammates.

Reflecting on his experience, Mr. Deng said, “TB is not so dreadful and people should not be ostracized for contracting it.After all, it’s not the patient’s fault.”He also stressed the importance of adhering to a physician’s instructions, of adhering to the drug treatment and of otherwise maintaining normal activity patterns.Mr. Deng further emphasized the importance of the support that he received from friends and family during his period of home quarantine.

To show his support for the Taiwan CDC’s “On The Move Against Tuberculosis” campaign, Mr. Deng posed for a calendar.He hopes that his experience will motivate other patients and their family members to battle against TB by adhering to their treatment regimens and following physicians’ instructions.

Taiwan CDC is sponsoring a school-based competition entitled “Innovating to Control TB” to raise awareness and understanding of this disease.The grand prize winner will be awarded aniPhone and NT$50,000 worth of retail coupons.The competition is organized to encourage students to learn more about TB through fun and entertaining activities.A number of recording artists have recorded narrative tracks to accompany a graphic novel, Chasing Down Clues, that will be sent out to school campuses across the country to drum up support for the campaign.