Community Awareness and Education on TB 

 

The management and the implementation of procedures for the TB awareness & education program will be conducted by OFCET. This will be done under the direct supervision of our organization’s leadership in collaboration with our volunteer team in Liberia.

 

For successful implementation of training and TB awareness programs; we are beginning with the most impacted communities in Liberia. To create an efficient program; trainers and social workers will be given loudspeakers, computers, projector screen , along with training and educational materials to enhance the implementation of  the TB awareness program in school  facilities, market places,  as well as urban and rural areas in Liberia. The goal of this approach is to not only break community spread but also  institutional spread of TB.

 

In our goal to break and control the spread of TB, The TB awareness - education program  will  focus on the most vulnerable places; such as schools, market grounds, congested lunch/ dining spaces, and prison communities.

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Our Goals, Population of Interest, Outcome:

 

Our  goal  under this program is to achieve Tb infection-reduction in the most impacted communities through education and awareness. Our program will be instrumental in removing the stigma associated with tuberculosis infection. This ,in return, will encourage individuals to seek help from the right resources if they or any member of their family is experiencing TB-like symptoms. Our initiative will encourage early intervention that will pave the way for urgent  testing and treatment of the individuals possibly exposed to TB.

  

This organization will engage in community dialogue. At OFCET- Liberia, we share the belief that to control and eradicate TB. Certain cultural habits will have to be addressed at community levels. The community engagement and dialogue will serve as an important tool to fight against the fast spreading TB infection.

OFCET’S “Community dialogue concept” will be a method we will use to get communities involved with finding common solutions; It also allows the organization to give agency and independence back to community members through education and awareness. In doing so, we are able to counteract risky health habits that contribute to the spread of the disease and build an interactive rapport with community members through dialogue, education and cultural awareness.

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Population of Interest:  Liberia

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Tuberculosis knows no age, gender, or race;  As the result,  this Program will target the general population, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable communities which include Liberian youths, Women, Men, the elderly , and children in most impacted communities.

Expected Outcome: 

 

The end goal of the Tuberculosis Awareness program is a community who is informed about the health-danger and impact of TB as well as  awareness and implementation of local resources to circumvent TB spread. As communities have access to more information and resources to make healthy lifestyle decisions that protect oneself, family members, and friends from tb infection;  We anticipate that stigma associated with TB will be minimized and possibly eliminated . Our efforts through working with local health resources will allow us to encourage and promote members to see their doctors for testing and treatment when a TB-like symptom is experienced or suspected. Through our efforts and working with local health resources, we hope to encourage and promote members to see their doctors for testing and treatment when a TB-like symptom is experienced or suspected. 

 

Strategies, Activities, Outputs and process

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Strategy:   

 

Our program strategies are motivated and shaped by the most current data on the effect of tuberculosis on a county by county and city by city  basis in Liberia.

Source:  Ministry of Health, Liberia,  and WHO

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Based on careful analysis of the data on hand, without any doubt, the plight of tb infection is on a rapid upward slope in Liberia.  However, OFCET-Liberia has  three projects under its carefully guided program to help control and eradicate tuberculosis within Liberia in compliance with World Health Organization's (WHO)  2030 goal to eliminate Tuberculosis in the world.

The first undertaking Project in the series of other projects in our program, is to urgently embark on community awareness and training education on prevention methods to control and stop the upward trend of TB infections. 

 

Strategy and Process:  Awareness and Education on TB

 

Our information concept strategy  will be based on using video presentations on TB awareness training and education. Causes and symptoms of Tb.  What to do if such symptoms are suspected in self, relatives or friends.  Adapting a new and healthy but culturally practical lifestyle to control or prevent TB 

Our means of training will be. but not limited to  using  the following tools:

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1. Loudspeakers,  computer, projectors and projector screen  for public or outdoor awareness and education

2.  We shall use  Printed brochures and posters on Tb  prevention, symptoms, testing and treatment references.

3. Embark on  educational radio drama:  In partnership with  local comedians and musical artists using radio, television and social platforms  to mainly target youths population

4. Using what we refer to as ‘Community Dialogue concept ‘  a means of addressing and reconsidering certain cultural or traditional practices that may be detrimental to community health. Because such cultural practice are prone to spreading viruses; together with communities , towns and villages -  we can come up with alternative practical  solutions  that control tb and other viruses  deemed detrimental to societal health

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