Target TB working in partnership with Tamir Welfare Organisation
Country/regional profile
Pakistan has a population of over 150 million. Despite a rapidly expanding economy, 35% of Pakistanis are living below the poverty level and the gap between rich and poor has widened. Over 100,000 Pakistanis develop TB every year and the World Health Organisation ranks Pakistan as 6th in the world for the highest burden of TB.
We are working in Faisalabad, north-east Pakistan, which is the country's third most populated city. A growing manufacturing industry in the district has triggered rapid migration from rural areas and sudden population increases have led to the emergence of unofficial settlements and slums where poverty and a lack of sanitation or basic health services increases vulnerability to infectious diseases such as TB.
Lady health workers are being trained
in TB control and use drama as a
popular means of spreading
information about TB
How Target TB is helping
Target TB is working with Tamir Welfare Organisation, a local NGO, to improve TB control efforts in low income areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Together we are working to promote awareness about TB and to help address the human resource shortages and knowledge gaps within the existing National TB Programme.
Project Aims
- To train local health workers in TB control and integrate them with private and public health institutions to improve TB case detection and cure rates
- To improve access to TB testing and treatment services amongst isolated and impoverished communities
- To spread awareness of TB through an intensive health education programme
Project Activities
200 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) will be trained in TB control by Tamir Welfare Organisation, in collaboration with the National TB Programme. 10 workshops will be held throughout 2008 to provide this training, with an end of year convention to evaluate the programme.
Transport facilities will be provided to the most vulnerable through a dedicated TB project vehicle. Many people with TB symptoms are unable to access health services due to transport costs or fear and uncertainty about using government health facilities. Tamir will therefore address this through a transport service, together with project staff and volunteers to accompany people at these health centres.
The vehicle will also be used to support awareness raising activities. Awareness raising camps are being organised throughout the project area to sensitize people about TB, for example how TB is prevented and treated. The vehicle will carry audio visual equipment through which films about TB, as well as associated issues such as HIV, will be shown to people attending. TB informational materials such as leaflets and posters will also be distributed in local language to improve TB knowledge levels.