Despite being preventable and treatable, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and requiring a community-driven approach for effective eradication.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Health)
Global TB Burden
- Prevalence: TB remains a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
- Statistics: WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 states:
- 10.8 million people developed active TB in 2023.
- 1.25 million deaths globally.
- Contradiction: Despite being preventable and treatable, TB continues to cause high mortality.
The Role of Community Engagement
- Beyond medical treatment – TB exists in a social context; families and communities are crucial in the fight.
- Key aspects of community participation:
- Co-designing care models.
- Shaping awareness campaigns.
- Creating treatment support programs that address medical, social, and economic barriers.
- Impact of lived experiences:
- Helps identify challenges and gaps in TB care.
- Ensures culturally relevant support systems.
- Strengthens treatment adherence through survivor-led initiatives.
Addressing TB-Related Stigma
- Stigma discourages diagnosis & treatment: Fear of discrimination leads to delays in seeking medical help.
- Community-driven solutions:
- Survivor-led advocacy raises awareness and changes public perceptions.
- Family and community narratives help normalize conversations about TB.
- Policymaking gaps:
- Those affected by TB are excluded from advocacy and communication efforts.
- Medicalised, top-down approach limits community participation.
- Tokenistic engagement reduces the effectiveness of TB programs.
Challenges in Community Engagement
- Lack of institutional support:
- Community participation is often symbolic rather than meaningful.
- Grassroots organizations struggle with funding constraints.
- Rigid, expert-led structures:
- National TB programs fail to fully integrate community voices.
- Policies are created without grassroots input, leading to weak implementation.
Successful Community-Driven Models
- India – Survivors Against TB (SATB):
- First survivor-led advocacy movement.
- Focus on patient rights, policy changes, nutritional & mental health support.
- South Africa – Desmond Tutu TB Centre:
- Integrates research, community participation, and policy advocacy.
- “Kick TB” campaign uses soccer to educate schoolchildren about TB.
- Key takeaway: Community leadership drives sustainable change.
The Way Forward: Rethinking TB Care
- Shift from tokenism to substantive engagement.
- Prioritize affected communities over numerical targets.
- Holistic TB response: Integrate medical, social, and psychological support.
- Empathy & equity in TB care – A person-centered approach is essential for elimination.
