A TB-free Namibia
Foundation focuses on awareness
TB is a highly contagious respiratory disease and particularly affects vulnerable populations such as children.
A former tuberculosis (TB) sufferer who overcame the disease and experienced firsthand the stigma and discrimination that goes hand in hand with it, launched a foundation to serve as a much-needed mouthpiece to raise awareness.Karin Husselmann, a nurse with a master's degree in public health and currently a lecturer in community health sciences at the International University of Management (IUM), hopes that the TB Free Foundation will raise awareness about the devastating effects of TB in children, teenagers and adults.
TB is a highly contagious respiratory disease and particularly affects vulnerable populations such as children and socially disadvantaged persons.
Although Karin already started her journey as a campaigner years ago, she only "officially" kicked it off at World TB Day in 2021 and came to the fore during a bike ride to raise awareness. She completed a 60 km ride from Oshikango to Eenhana. Last year, the cycling team from Dundee Precious Metals' Copper sports club from Tsumeb joined her to pedal the 70 km from Omethiya to Onandjokwe hospital.
This year's drive for a TB-free Namibia is from Mangetti to Tsumkwe.
"With every step, I think of and pray for every person with TB. I trust that the action of pedalling propels my bike forward. I hope that the information that is distributed through the TB-free bike rides also equips communities to move the country forward with a new vision to stamp out this old enemy once and for all," says Karin.
"I strongly believe God uses our deepest pain and sorrow as a starting point for our true calling."
Quality care
Through the foundation, she hopes to ensure and support the high quality of care and treatment "for every single TB sufferer" through advocacy, while also breaking down stigma and discrimination at all levels in the country.
One of the key activities is strong engagement and visibility during Namibia's commemoration of World TB Day which is celebrated today.
The foundation's slogan, "Break down barriers, end TB" aligns with the goal of the Ministry of Health and Social Services to reduce TB cases from the current 457 per 100 000 to 50 per 100 000. The latter using not only creating general awareness but also what services are available nationwide for diagnosis, treatment and also prevention in the country.
"With the help and support of like-minded donors, both nationally and internationally and through the deliberate efforts of various role players, the TB Free Foundation can help the ministry achieve its goal."
Apart from being diagnosed, cared for and treated promptly with dignity and respect, every child, teenager and adult in Namibia also deserves the right to be adequately treated against the disease and use preventive therapy (PTT) where necessary, Karin says.
Part of the foundation is the CCC4TB project where corporate role players, churches and communities sponsor food parcels for children at Tsumkwe with TB. Currently, 155 packages are being collected, which will contain everything from dry ingredients to cans of fish and peanut butter. The hope is also to help TB patients with planting their own vegetable gardens and to encourage residents to keep this disease in mind when they cough.
"It focuses on 'think, test and treat'. If you don't get treatment, you can infect up to 20 people and more within a year. It focuses on suppressing the germ to multiply and is a way to prevent you from infecting the next person again."
Karin and her foundation also work with another TB survivor, André J. Gariseb, in communities and especially amongst men to get them to visit health facilities. She would also like to empower TB "champions" with the knowledge to work in communities and create awareness among residents, while the foundation also wants to involve more children and youth in campaigns and projects. Also in the pipeline is the use of e-bikes by health workers in Tsumkwe to reach patients more quickly.
The foundation can be contacted at [email protected] or 081 407 0029 for more information.
– [email protected]