In this project in Mzimba district, volunteers are contacting the families of infectious TB patients and asking if they have any symptoms.  If they are found to have early signs of TB they can be diagnosed and put on treatment quickly - preventing them from passing on the disease to others in their family or community. Children under 5, and people with HIV (those most at risk) are given a 6 month course of preventative drugs. Family members are also offered voluntary HIV testing and treatment for those who are HIV positive. Crucially this activity is cost effective because it targets only those most at risk.

Alfred’s mother had TB, and it is very likely that he breathed in the germs from her because he is with her all day, often held close, and sleeps in the same bed. As soon as his mother was diagnosed a community health volunteer visited the family, checked the adults for TB symptoms and explained what to look out for, and recommended 4 year old Alfred for preventative therapy.  A nurse then visited Alfred and made sure the family understood the importance of finishing the course of treatment.  The preventative medicine will kill off the disease and prevent it becoming active, giving then the best chance of staying alive and healthy. 

New year – new plans to fight TB.  Can you help us save more children like Alfred?

In 2009 we plan to support other projects in Africa and Asia to use this new way of fighting TB, building on the Mzimba project experience.  To do that we would like to ask for your support.  The cost of helping Alfred stay alive and healthy is £35 - with your help other children can have the same protection from TB. 

Thank you.

Click here
to Donate
on-line

PS.  We appreciate that many of us are facing financial hardship at this time – so let me assure you that anything you can spare will be gratefully received. 

A gift to protect children like Alfred from TB

Your gift could make a real difference to children like Alfred in Malawi and help TB Alert to expand this method of working to other developing countries

£15     trains a new volunteer to contact the families of TB patients and check for TB symptoms

£30     pays for a month’s fuel for the two project supervisors’ motorbikes

£35     keeps a child like Alfred alive, healthy and TB free *

£45     buys a bicycle for a project volunteer to visit families

*This is calculated by taking the full cost of the project, divided by the number of people helped by the project (children and adults given preventative medicine, cases of TB detected early and treated, and people diagnosed with and treated for HIV).

Click here to download and print the gift form

This is the postcard included with appeals sent out by mail - click here to download in pdf format