At a glance
In this video, tuberculosis (TB) disease survivors Preeni, Greg, and Renee talk about the effects of stigma around TB disease.
Preeni
Preeni felt uncomfortable sharing her TB disease diagnosis outside of her close family and friends. She waited until she finished treatment before speaking about her experience with others.
She wants to tell people TB is a disease that spreads through the air and anyone can get it.
Greg
After he was discharged from the hospital, Greg stayed in a shelter instead of with family members. His family didn't understand TB disease. Without the support of family, Greg felt isolated.
Greg still experiences stigma, but now he can share his TB experience with others. His involvement with the TB support group We Are TB has helped him talk about TB and not feel ashamed.
Renee
Renee didn’t experience much stigma when others found out about her diagnosis. However, she remembers the people around her being stunned to learn she had TB disease.
She wants to educate her community that TB still exists. It is spread in the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks, or sings. Anyone can get TB.
Resources
We are TB, and Somos TB (for Spanish-speakers), is a community of TB survivors, people being treated for TB, and their family members, committed to the common goal of eliminating TB. The group provides comprehensive peer support for current TB patients and TB clinics.