Pimville hosts World TB Day awareness drive to fight stigma
The Crystal Fountain and partners united residents and health experts to educate communities about TB and encourage early testing.
The Crystal Fountain (CF), together with its partners, hosted a World TB Day awareness event at Hlalefang Primary School in Pimville, Soweto, on March 23.
The event brought together community members, health professionals, stakeholders and different organisations to raise awareness about TB, encourage testing, and promote treatment adherence within communities.
Malibongwe Nyembe, a HIV testing services supervisor at CF, shared that the day is all about bringing information about TB to local communities who turn a blind eye to the disease.
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“We know that TB is mostly associated with HIV, which is still stigmatised in our communities, and it is important that we come and let everyone know that even those who might be scared to come forward, we are at their service and that treatment is available,” said Nyembe.
Stakeholders included CliniX, SANCA and IsiZinda Zempilo, and they covered topics related to TB, drug abuse and diabetes.
Khulile Maphanga, an assistant nurse from CliniX, gave insight and information during an interactive session.
A TB survivor from Pimville, who requested to remain anonymous, shared her journey of beating the disease in 2012.
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“These sessions are important to have. I am a survivor and did not know how I contracted the dis
“I was very sick to the point where I needed to be bathed and had to take a ridiculous amount of pills. That was the most painful period of my life that I do not wish upon my enemy,” she said.
Another community member, Kelebohile Mafatle, said that the session was informative.
