Pune: KEM Hospital Research Centre’s Street Play on TB Awareness Gets Thumbs-Up from Villagers
Pune, 17 February 2023 : The Vadu Rural Health Programme (VRHP) of KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune conducted an information, education and communication (IEC) activity of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), in collaboration with the District TB Office, Pune (Rural) on 9th February 2023 at Koregaon Bhima and Vadu. The activity was in connection with the annual cultural fest of KEMHRC staff, ‘Vaduphoria 2023’.
The programme featured a rally on TB awareness by the staff of KEMHRC, children of Sharad Chandraji Pawar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Maher Ashram and other residents of Koregaon Bhima and Vadu Budhruk villages, raising the slogans of ‘TB Haarega Desh Jeetega’ and ‘TB Mukt Bharat by 2025’. Two rounds of street play were conducted, one at Koregaon Bhima market and another at Vadu, titled ‘TB Mukt Bharat’. The humour embellished street play containing key messages on TB awareness was well performed by the KEMHRC staff and thoroughly enjoyed by the villagers, including the children. The play was directed jointly by Dr Swathi Krishna and Mr Manoj Dagwar.
Pamphlets on TB awareness under NTEP, provided by DTO Pune (Rural), were distributed to the public who witnessed the street play and also to shopkeepers and villagers in the course of the rally. The event was an example of KEMHRC’s commitment towards the overall development of the community in the service area and also, a replicable example for public-private partnership and collaborative works for national priorities like TB elimination. The street play was performed by Rani, Shalan, Shilpa, Rejoy, Vijay, Meera, Vijaya, Prakash and Shrikant. It was followed by a health education session by Dr Swathi Krishna and Dr Arunkumar Gondhali.
The team from DTO Pune (Rural) consisting of District TB Supervisor Mr Zagade, Senior Treatment Supervisor Mr Dhanu Badhe and Senior TB Lab Supervisor Mr Rajendra Galgate; Mr Sonawane, Mr Bhamare, Mr Kadam, Mr Bhandare, Mr Shiwale, Mr Wanawe and Mr Awachat from Sharad Chandraji Pawar Madhyamik Vidyalaya and Ms Anita from Maher Ashram, were also present at the event. VRHP head, Prof Sanjay Juvekar felicitated the DTO and Maher Ashram officials and presented memento. Mr Vijay Gaikwad thanked the gathering. The event also got featured in the official monitoring report of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMA).
