Echoing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme for its 2010 global tuberculosis strategy—innovate to accelerate action—Taiwan’s 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 Sunday, April 25th, 2010, the Taiwan CDC adaptation of the classic Chinese opera tale, Madame White Snakewill bewas performed at the Taichung City Cultural Center.The Taiwan CDC branch director, Lee Tsuey-Feng, and the Taichung City Bureau of Health (BOH) director, Lin Deng-Juin, together recitedd a simple “Fight TB” poem together to convey important TB control and prevention tips and concepts.

The tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Taichung decreased during the period from of 2005 through 2008.According to the latest data, approximately 70-percent of Taichung City’s TB patients are 60 years old and above.The city also has a TB therapy completion rate of more than 80-percent—the highest in the central region of Taiwan.

Taichung City BOH director Lin takes the city’s fight against TB very seriously and personally attends every TB prevention and control or DOTS meeting to ensure that the DOTS program is being implemented in accordance with the highest standards.Director Lin recited a “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.The director also led a chorus of other BOH personnel in calling on citizens to work together to defeat TB.

The Taiwan CDC’s operatic performance will move to Pintung County on May 1, 2010st and then Hualien County on May 9,2010th.Prize-drawings will be held at each eventopera performace.Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with experts to ensure that everyone comes away with the understanding that TB is curable as long as treatment regimens are followed.The Taiwan CDC encourages everyone to join the festivities and the fight against TB!