Survive to Fight: Community Action to Eradicate TB
In 2024, we launched our new project, Survive to Fight, in collaboration with Stop TB Partnership. Through this initiative, we are:
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Strengthening the TB community system through capacity building and community empowerment
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Supporting the implementation of community-led monitoring systems
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Mobilising stakeholders at the community and district levels to advocate for community-centred TB policies and TB control programmes
Why is 'Survive to Fight' so important?
10 million people
worldwide develop TB every year
2 million cases
of TB cases are recorded in India each year
4 million people
don't receive adequate TB care
Fighting TB is more than a necessity, it is an emergency. TB is not just a medical issue; more than anything, it is a social one. Because infection is often synonymous with stigmatization and social exclusion, many people are afraid to get tested. And when they do, they often cannot speak openly about it within their communities. This has two major consequences: people infected with TB may continue to spread the disease, and poor treatment compliance can lead to multidrug-resistant TB. While the government has provided free access to diagnosis and treatment, this alone is not enough. To truly put an end to this epidemic, we must change mindsets and challenge the social stigma surrounding TB.