"You should know about tuberculosis": a project that saves lives

Since 2018, the NGO «Labor and Health Social Initiatives» (LHSI) has been implementing the project "You Should Know About Tuberculosis", aimed at actively detecting new cases of tuberculosis and MDR-TB among vulnerable groups, currently including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and former prisoners.

This year, the project covers six regions of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Donetsk, Vinnytsia, Lviv oblast’ and the city of Kyiv. Its objectives are to ensure unhindered access for people from the target groups to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis, as well as to provide motivational support and social assistance.

As part of the initiative, social workers conduct screening surveys, organize consultations, accompany clients to medical institutions, assist with access to additional diagnostic services, and establish cooperation with local communities and medical facilities.

The project continued to operate even after the beginning of the full-scale war: for example, in the Kharkiv region, it was resumed as early as March 2022, and subsequently expanded its activities to new regions.

Living Stories of Change

Over the years of implementation, the project has become not only a platform for fighting tuberculosis but also a place where people get a chance to restore their lives.

For example, just this year, by the beginning of summer in the Turka community in Lviv Oblast, thanks to screening surveys, 355 individuals underwent examinations, of which 177 were suspected of having TB, and 9 people's diagnoses were confirmed. All of them have started treatment. For a community with less than 30,000 residents, this is a significant number.

In Kyiv, the story of former inmate Oleksandr has become an example of how the project helps not only restore health but also regain lost dignity. With the support of a social worker, he was able to undergo examinations, obtain documents, and start a new life.

Partnership and support

The project "You Should Know About Tuberculoss" is implemented by the NGO «Labor and Health Social Initiatives» (LHSI)  with the support of the Charitable Foundation "Alliance for Public Health" within the framework of the Global Fund grant to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as in collaboration with regional and local social service centers and healthcare facilities.

Tuberculosis is treatable. The main thing is to detect the problem in time and not to stay alone. This is exactly what the project team is engaged in every day, continuing their work.