On World Tuberculosis Day, as the global community unites behind the theme “Yes! We Can End TB,” the Intercountry Partnership for Ending AIDS and Tuberculosis project is translating this message into concrete action in Champasak, Lao PDR.
Funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by the Centre for Community Health Research and Development (CCRD) in collaboration with the Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAS), the project focuses on strengthening community responses to tuberculosis in remote and underserved areas.
Tuberculosis continues to affect people living in hard-to-reach communities, where limited access to health services, low awareness of symptoms, and stigma often delay diagnosis and treatment. Recognizing these challenges, the project adopts a community-centered approach that prioritizes outreach, engagement, and partnership with local health facilities.
These combined efforts are already contributing to tangible progress. Communities are demonstrating improved knowledge of TB symptoms and transmission, leading to increased screening and earlier diagnosis. Health facilities are experiencing stronger collaboration with community groups, enabling more effective case finding and follow-up. Importantly, the project is also creating space for greater participation of women in community-based TB responses, both as service users and as community advocates.
A key priority of the project is to reduce barriers faced by marginalized communities. Women in rural areas, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQIA+ communities often encounter stigma or lack access to information and services. By promoting inclusive outreach strategies and people-centered service delivery, the project contributes to more equitable access to TB prevention and care.
Every early detection represents an opportunity to interrupt the chain of transmission and prevent further illness. By investing in locally led solutions and empowering communities to take an active role in TB response, CCRD and its partners are helping to build sustainable pathways toward ending TB.