By Teresa Rugg | Director
Dear TB Photovoice Family,
We are so close! We are burning the midnight oil to bring the TB stories of over 25 people in the Puget Sound area to the public. Our video is ready to go, and we are putting the finishing touches on our TBVoicesProject.com website. A community exhibition featuring the messages and insights from our participants is being created and will be unveiled in mid-March.
A quote that continues to come to my mind that speaks to the importance of supporting persons impacted by TB, and confronting the TB stigma, is from Fatxi, a resident of Seattle.
In 2004, despite risk of infection, Fatxi, a young mother living in Kenya, took care of a family member who had TB. Everyone else in the family had abandoned her due to fear and the stigma of TB. Because of Fatxi's determination to support and care for this woman and despite being abandoned by the majority of her family, the woman was cured and regained her strength after a nine-month TB treatment. Fatxi believes education about TB and compassion are the keys to getting rid of the TB stigma.
In Fatxi's words:
If somebody is sick with TB and they know that other people despise or dislike them just because they are sick, they will be stressed. They will be depressed and the situation they have is going to be worse and worse.
One thing I really don’t understand is why people don't support others who are sick? We are all human beings, we are family, we are friends, we are community, we are neighbors. We need to support one another.
As we prepare to share the TB Voices Project with local, national, and global communities, we are mindful of how much time, energy, resources and passion go into the creation of a successful project. We are thankful for your support that allows us to continue amplifying the messages of our participants.
We will begin our countdown to the March 24 World TB Day starting on March 3. Please take some time to visit our TB Voices Project Facebook page to hear about our featured stories, events, and inspiring messages.
Here we come!
Sincerely,
Teresa Rugg
TB Photovoice Director
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