Role of Health Volunteers in Community Engagement

Involve TB Champions: Community Health Volunteers should play a key role in the following aspects

• Identification from TB survivors in the community
• Training in various aspects of TB and role of TB Champions in NTEP activities
• Mentoring and grooming for providing support to TB patients as peer counsellors
• Supporting the formation & functioning of survivor-led networks at various levels
• Recognition and facilitation for good work on occasions like “International TB Day Celebration.”

Engaging community structures at village level: Community Health Volunteers should engage the community for the following:

• Active Case Finding
• TB awareness generation
• Stigma reduction
• Support for TB patients

Psychosocial Support to TB Patients: 

• Offer words of encouragement,  alleviate anxiety and create awareness.
• Promote kindness, solidarity, compassion; offer to talk to family & community members.
• Connect TB patients to TB community network, TB survivors.
• Have a gender-sensitive approach and ensure gender equality.
• Provide guidance on supportive interventions(e.g., refer to mental health helplines, share information on videos/resources available on MoHFW’s website).
• Choose words carefully while referring to those affected; form treatment support groups.
• Avoid using words like cases, victims, transmitters and suspects.
• Share key messages to prevent stigma; conduct stigma reduction interventions.