Youth to end TB

Madhusudan Kaphle

An innovative youth leader from Nepal, Madhusudan Kaphle has expanded efforts to strengthen youth engagement to end TB from his country to across the world. The 26-year-old envisions a world that is unchained by the burden of TB – the world’s deadliest infectious killer.. The TB movement has spread to countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nepal. His endeavors through advocacy across all levels – from local, national to global – have opened doors for more youth to get involved in reach global TB targets as outlined in WHO’s End TB Strategy.

 

Do Thu Thuong

A 28 year old young lady from Vietnam, Do Thu Thuong, is vice president of the Vietnam Youth Movement against TB and a researcher for TB and lung diseases. This strongly passionate youth had a childhood dream of becoming a health worker which led her to join Vietnam’s National Tuberculosis Program in efforts to end TB by 2030. While doing so, she along with a group of young people was successful in establishing the Vietnam Youth Movement against TB in collaboration with the Vietnam Lung Association. She has initiated actions to propagate knowledge and awareness on TB to students at universities, secondary level and primary level schools.

 

Saad Ukkas

A Moroccan young man, Saad Ukkas, is a Liaison Officer to student organizations in the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA). As a Liaison Officer, Saad plays a leading role in coordinating medical students worldwide and linking them with students from other disciplines to join hands and work together in fighting TB and other infectious diseases. This has resulted in multiple health student organizations working together to celebrate WorldTB day and ultimately establish national campaigns against TB.

Ksenia Shchenina

The 32 year-old Ksenia Shchenina is a Board Member of the Europe Coalition and TBpeople network, which has become global and has representatives on almost all continents of the world. She was diagnosed 12 years ago with TB. Back in the hospital, she started a blog about TB, followed by the establishment of an online support group for TB patients. Over the years, the group has become a place of support for many people affected by TB.  Now everyone who writes in can get the advice of doctors, consultants and psychologists. Together with another TB survivor she wrote a book from “patient to patient” called “You and Tuberculosis”.  Today it has been translated in 11 languages.

Eyasu Deressa

28-year-old, Eyasu Deressa is an Ethiopian young mind who was a Zonal focal person for TB. An MPH degree holder in epidemiology and research, he comprehended the risk of TB in mine workers. His activities to address this important issue included the organization of TB screening campaigns in mining areas. He contributed to screening about 9300 people presumed to have TB, of these 141 people were diagnosed to have TB. He foresees taking forward his initiative and implementing projects to improve the accessibility of health care services for people working in mining areas.

Mazidatun Maftukhah

Now at the age of 25, Mazidatun Maftukhah, is the Communication Director for Indonesia Youth for TB movement (Indonesia Muda untuk Tuberkulosis/IMUT), a community initiative to promote youth participation to combat TB in Indonesia founded in September 2019. A TB survivor herself, she believes that being infected with TB at a young age is depressing and immediate actions are necessary to protect the youth of the globe from this top infectious killer. Living in the 3rd highest burden country for TB, she was able to organize a WHO 1+1 Youth initiative program and sensitize youth to play an important role in ending TB.

Fabrizzio Canaval

As a medical student, Fabrizzio Canaval was always involved in many community-based activities to prevent TB in the most vulnerable populations. He led prevention campaigns against diseases, through which he aimed to reduce the equity gap existent in the society. At the same time, he collaborated with other student organizations to promote interdisciplinary approaches for people with TB. Having a vision based on health equity, he actively advocated for increasing prevention and promotion strategies in rural communities and among people living with HIV. Furthermore, when he reached his last year of medical studies, he directly worked with people with TB at the primary healthcare level. As result of this work, together with doctors of his primary health care center he contributed to establishing a support network not just to support patients in following up with their treatment, but also in providing nutritional and psychological support.

He believes that in order to reach health equity, we need to support processes that promote inclusion and inspire our society to move forward not leaving anyone behind. Deep changes are essential to close gaps affecting vulnerable populations, and he identifies young people as key stakeholders to achieve those goals effectively.