Hesperian Health Guides
Working for Change
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| Fresh air and sunshine help limit the spread of TB. |
Creating effective TB control in your community requires:
- community and family education about signs of TB, how it spreads, and how to seek testing and treatment if you were exposed to TB or have developed signs.
- trained health workers or volunteers to help in the DOTS program and find and work with people sick with TB who stop treatment too soon. DOTS programs must be flexible to meet individual needs.
- a steady supply of medicines so treatment does not get interrupted.
- laboratory equipment and trained workers for testing sputum.
- a system for tracking who has TB, how treatment is going, when treatment is completed, and the outcome. Friendly support can help people taking TB medicines look forward to DOTS visits.
TB programs must care for all people sick with TB and can reach more women by:
- providing care and treatment in or near women’s homes.
- including midwives and traditional birth attendants in TB screening and DOTS programs.
- combining TB screening and treatment with other services people need.
This page was updated:13 Nov 2023