Ifakara Health Institute and the TB Alliance today here host the media and other stakeholders in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Bagamoyo for a day-long meeting to give them updates on the role of Bagamoyo community in the war against TB.

Members of the community advisory board (CAB), officials from the Bagamoyo District Council charged with public health – including the District Medical Officer (DMO) – and representatives of mainstream media outlets such as TBC, ITV, Daily News, The Guardian, and Mwananchi, attended.

Ifakara Health Institute works with the community, through the CAB group, to educate, raise awareness and conduct strategic research and campaigns about all forms of TB where it works and implement its interventions in Bagamoyo.

In his opening remarks, Ifakara’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Dr. Omary Juma, told the journalists, "It is my hope that the media will play its role in informing the public about the research activities conducted by Ifakara. This will help increase awareness and engagement as well as allow people to share their opinion and show support by working together."

Since its establishment in 2007, CAB has been functioning under Ifakara Health Institute and its role is to educate, raise awareness and conduct strategic research and campaigns about all forms of TB where it works and implement its interventions in Bagamoyo.

During the seminar, Dr. Juma also conducted a brief training session to educate journalists how to communicate scientific information to the public. The session involved practical exercises including performances by artists from Bagamoyo College of Arts which showed how information can be conveyed through art.

>> More photos from the event.