Internation a l P h a r m a c eu t i ca l S t u d e nt s ’ Fed e rat i o n
IPSF NEWSLETTER Anti-TB Precampaign
Issue N°85
International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation
Iss TB EW ue N° Pr S ec LE 85 am T T pa E ign R ti-
IP S An F N
IPSF NEWSLETTER
Summary
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IPSF Public Health Edition Anti-TB Campaign Newsletter
Facts about tuberculosis
Questions/ Aswers
Ideas for the Campaign
Useful Links Special Thanks Last but not least
From the land of multi cultures, ages of history and different customs I fold my hands and greet everyone. NAMASATE (Indian way of saying hello). The World Health organization (WHO) has declared 24th of March as the World Tuberculosis Day and in response to this, the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) would like to invite you to take part in the annual TB Awareness Campaign to enlighten few more men and women against the dreadful disease of tuberculosis. ALERT TODAY… ALIVE TOMMORROW YOUR LIFE IS NOT FOR TB TO BORROW.
For any information and guidance please feel free to contact me at (tb@ipsf.org). Regards
TB
Singh Jasmit 010 – 2011 nator 2 Coordi
Anti-TB Precampaign
What’s DOTS?
Dear fellow IPSFers,
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Facts about tuberculosis Current Estimation
IPSF NEWSLETTER Anti-TB Precampaign 2
TB is among the three greatest
1.7 million people died from
causes of death among
TB (including 380
women aged 1544.
2009.
9.4 million new TB cases (including at least 3.3 million women) in .
2009
000 women) in
5.8 million TB cases were notified through the DOTS programs in 2009.
Between the years 2000 and 2020, nearly one billion people will be newly infected, 200 million people will get sick, and 35 million people will die from TB – if control is not further strengthen
IPSF NEWSLETTER
What’s DOTS? DOTS or Directly Observed Treatment Short course is the internationally recommended strategy for TB control that has been recognized as a highly efficient and cost-effective strategy. DOTS comprises of five components: 1. Sustained political and financial commitment. 2. Diagnosis by quality ensured sputum-smear microscopy. 3. Standardized short-course anti-TB treatment (SCC) given under direct and supportive observation (DOT). 4. A regular, uninterrupted supply of high quality anti-TB drugs. 5. Standardized recording and reporting.
Anti-TB Precampaign
Since 1995, 41 million people have been successfully treated and up to 6 million lives saved through DOTS and the Stop TB Strategy
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IPSF NEWSLETTER
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS Who can get TB? Anyone can get TB: the rich, the poor, the young and the elderly.
Anti-TB Precampaign
TB can be transmitted from one person to another through the droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
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This makes TB a serious public health problem.
What are the symptoms of TB? • Cough persisting for more than 2-3 weeks, sometimes blood in the cough • Low degree fever (usually at night) • Weight weakness
loss,
reduced
appetite
and
• Pain in the chest at times • Breathlessness in later stages of the disease
How is TB diagnosed? • General physical examination • Sputum Test: - Sputum testing is most inexpensive and reliable way to diagnose TB. A Positive sputum test indicates presence of the germs in the mucus. • Chest X-ray
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QUESTIONS/ASWERS What care should be taken once TB is diagnosed? • Do not panic. Be assured of the cure. • Take medicines regularly for complete duration • (6 months or longer as per the medical advice) • Eat a balanced diet, lots of vegetables and fruit. • Use a cup with household disinfectant and spit in that cup only. Do not spit elsewhere.
What can we DO? Given the high utilization of pharmacy services, we may be the first and the last people to meet the patient. We as pharmacy students and young pharmacists are in the position of being health care providers who are in primary contact with our patient. We can contribute significantly to different tasks essential for quality TB care. We can assist in early identification of TB suspects and refer them for diagnosis thereby reducing delays in diagnosis, saving costs of care and increasing case detection.
• Try to stay in well ventilated environments. • Go for a sputum test regularly as advised by the doctor.
Finally making the earth free from TB.
Anti-TB Precampaign
• Use handkerchief while coughing.
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IDEAS for the Campaign Standing freeze for 1 or 2 minutes in areas near the campaign
Anti-TB Precampaign
Distribute a handkerchief.
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Organize a charity run and raise maximum funds possible.
Interactive activities.
Motivate people to cover mouth or nose with Set up an information handkerchief while they sneeze. desk with flyers, posters, guidelines of TB treatment.
IPSF NEWSLETTER
IDEAS for the Campaign
Collaborate with other local or national TB organizations.
Invite TB patients to come to your faculty to carry out a workshop about TB awareness.
This can be inside the mall or other public places.
Anti-TB Precampaign
Ask a pharmaceutical company to donate Anti-TB drugs.
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IPSF NEWSLETTER
Useful Links www.who.int/tb www.worldtbday.org www.itfweb.org www.theunion.org/
Special Thanks I would like to give thanks to my sub committee members for all their efforts.
Johanna Walz Samrin Karvin Mehta Jasmit Singh
Last but not least The World TB Day is on 24th March. But if you cannot organize a campaign this day, it is not too late. You can still organize it anytime throughout the whole year! So just do it! Organize an event whenever it is the most convenient for you. Remember to share your campaigns with other IPSF member by writing an activity report and submitting it to IPSF. For any information, ideas, resources or help, please contact:
Anti-TB Precampaign
Sharon Leung - Chairperson of Public Health at publichealth@ipsf.org
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Jasmit Singh - TB Coordinator at tb@ipsf.org
Good Luck with your campaigns.
International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation P.O BOX 84200 2508 AE Den Haag The Netherlands Tel: +31 70 302 1992 Fax: +31 70 302 1999 Email: ipsf@ipsf.org Website: www.ipsf.org