A TB Champion is a person who has been affected by TB and successfully completed the treatment.

TB Champions, in their capacity as survivors, are role models and can provide valuable support to those with TB and their families.

Figure: Roles of TB Champion

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

Coordination:

Community Health Volunteers(CHVs) should coordinate with TB Health Visitor(TBHV)/STS/Medical Officer of the health facility/PRI(Panchayati Raj Institutions) regarding regular intake of drugs by the patient.

Home Visits:

1. All TB patients notified on or continues treatment after 1st April 2018 including all existing TB patients under treatment are eligible to receive incentives.
2. For availing DBT scheme benefits under NTEP Programme, TB patients have to provide their bank details to the nearest NTEP Health facility.
3. The patient must be registered\notified on the NIKSHAY portal.

Nutritional Counselling begins with the nutritional assessment of TB patients by

• Nutritional Status: Assessing the height, weight and BMI of the TB patient
• Diet and Preference food for TB patients
• Current appetite and food intake of TB patients

Based on the nutritional assessment, the following information can be conveyed to TB Patients

Awareness should be generated in the community for promoting various health programmes, health seeking behaviours, screening of TB cases etc. by involving and sensitizing community influencers including PRI members and treatment support groups.

Figure: Activities for awareness generation in community

Do’s

• Active listening, emphatic gestures and expressions
• Ensure the confidentiality of the conversation done with the patient
• Ensure Minimum interruption during the conversation with patient
• Ensuring availability of IEC materials such as posters, videos, pamphlets etc. to dispel myths and misconceptions.

Don'ts

Nutrition Counselling

TB Awareness Generation in Community

Confidential dialogue between a health care provider and a patient that helps a patient to define his/her feelings, cope with stress, and to make informed decisions regarding treatment.

The patient should be counselled at all the three phases i.e.,