Linden professionals benefit from TB/HIV Peer Education training

Professionals from across the Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community last week benefitted from a TB/HIV (Tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Peer Education training organised through the Public Health Ministry under the National Tuberculosis programme initiative.
The activity, which was conducted at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), targeted professionals such as Head Teachers, religious leaders, law enforcement officers and media personnel, among others.
According to officials attached to the initiative, it aims at enhancing public education on TB and HIV through participation in outreach activities and dissemination of information to various sections of society.
The programme forms part of the Public Health Ministry’s 2019 budgeted training plan.
Administrative Manager attached to the TB/HIV Department of the Ministry’s Disease Control National TB programme, Rhonda Cripaul said it mainly sought to sensitise participants so that they can go back into society and spread the message about what was learnt.
“The purpose of the Peer Education training is to sensitise the community about tuberculosis – what it is, what are the classic signs and symptoms, the mode of transmission, the medication. We also do drug-resistant TB, we touched on adherence because adherence is a very big component of taking the treatment. We’re also touching on infection control too which is really important – it helps persons to know, ‘well look this is how I can protect myself and my family’. So, you can contain the spread of the disease,” she highlighted.
Cripaul, who was one of the facilitators, in her presentation, narrowed in on peer education and communication which she explained was aimed at empowering participants on important aspects such as verbal communication skills and how they can educate people in the community about the disease. It also entailed a case study as well as focus on stigma and discrimination.
“It’s really just getting the message out there, educating persons so they’re able to take the message further – back to their homes, workplaces and back to their community,” Cripaul said.
She further alluded to the outstanding work put out by the Linden Chest Clinic which manages TB and HIV cases in the region.
“Linden has been doing very good work in terms of their cure rate. You have a very dedicated team located at the Wismar Hospital Chest Clinic headed by Dr Roscoe McDonald. They work closely with the community in containing the spread of TB and with the patients in ensuring that they see them through to the end of the treatment. They have the highest cure rate for last year which is excellent,” Cripaul said.
TB/HIV focal person and department head, Dr Rhonda Williams was also part of the initiative.
The National Tuberculosis programme is headed by Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall, who serves as Programme Manager. The initiative was hosted in Region 5 last year and in Region 4 in 2017.