Under the World TB Day campaign, the CHIAs team, together with village health volunteers (VHVs) and local health providers, implemented integrated community activities from 30 March to 3 April across ten villages in Champasak district. These activities, supported by the Intercountry Partnership for Ending AIDS and TB – funded by the Australian Government through DFAT and managed by CCRD, combined community awareness with targeted case finding.
From 30–31 March, interactive drama performances delivered by local actors and community groups raised awareness on TB symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and care, while also addressing stigma and discrimination. Facilitated discussions led by health workers reinforced key messages and encouraged health-seeking behaviors. A total of 367 people (Female: 255; Male: 112) received TB and HIV information.
On 1 April, hotspot assessments identified priority locations for further interventions. Following this, from 2–3 April, Active Case Finding (ACF) activities were conducted through mobile outreach services. Health staff, CHIAs outreach staff, VHVs, and local authorities screened 316 individuals for TB, detecting 35 TB cases, while 39 individuals were tested for HIV with no positive cases.
This phased approach – from awareness to hotspot identification and mobile testing – demonstrates strong linkage between community engagement and case detection. To sustain engagement and amplify key messages, 1–2 short case study videos featuring TB patients, survivors, and health workers are planned to be shared online by 30 April 2026.