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Community Leadership in Action: The Yan Rake’s Association TB Story

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By Kabiru Badamasi, Samson Akawo, Abdullahi Yola and Lizzy Idoko

 

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health problem and one of the top ten leading causes of death, worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a recent report, Nigeria has the highest TB burden in Africa with the disease killing over 268 people in the country every day. Further data shows that Kano State, one of the most populous states in Nigeria, with over 12 million residents has the third highest number of TB cases reported according to the National TB Programme marking the state a critical area in need of interventions to eradicate the burden of TB.

In response to this, SFH is currently implementing the Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) project in the Kano state, an intervention aimed at improving TB programming, care and support, by enhancing the capacity and resilience of TB survivors and community facilitators to challenge the status quo through effective community activism and advocacy across ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) including; Fagge, Dala, Nasarawa, Gwale, Wudil, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, Dawakin Tofa and Sumaila. Within this framework, the team of community advocates in the Yan Rake community of Gwale LGA, Kano State, shared how determination and collaboration highlight the impact of engaging community leaders in combating TB.

 

Upon a successful advocacy visit to the Chairman, of the Yan Rake (sugar cane seller) Association the Gwale TB advocacy team took the initiative to carry out sensitisation and screening with members of the current association. It was during this screening that a TB-positive patient was identified. Upon confirmation of his result, he rejected the result and refused treatment. All appeals to him to commence treatment to curb the spread of the infection fell on deaf ears. The team of advocates then brought this case to the attention of the association’s chairman Alh. Abbati Mustapha, a respected leader among the sugar cane sellers, who stepped in decisively. He insisted that the patient either accept treatment or forfeit his membership in the group. Under this firm guidance, the patient conceded to receive treatment.

After treatment commenced, the advocacy team followed up with him to ascertain his progress and adherence to treatment. Ten days after continuous follow-up, the patient began to experience notable health improvements such as a halt in sputum production, and recovery in weight loss. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he repeatedly contacted the TB advocates, thanking them for their life-saving intervention. He also visited the chairman’s office to express his thanks in person, a gesture that deeply moved the chairman and reinforced his commitment to the cause. The chairman who was inspired by this success reached out to the Gwale TB advocacy team, requesting a follow-up screening and sensitisation to a wider group of his members. Demonstrating his tireless support, he halted all business activities for the day, ensuring maximum participation from the community. This initiative led to the screening of 54 individuals, uncovering 9 presumed TB cases. After further diagnosis, another TB patient was confirmed and promptly began treatment. In a touching gesture of appreciation, this patient became an advocate for TB in the community, underscoring the profound impact of TB advocacy teams’ work.

In the words of the chairman of the Yan Rake Sellers’ Association, he said: “I am grateful for your efforts which resulted in the diagnosis and treatment of two of my members, and I will continue to support you in any way possible.” His leadership and the community’s collaborative spirit have significantly contributed to the progress in TB control within Gwale LGA.


Through a Participatory Learning Action Approach adopted by the CFCS project that allows trained community advocates to become competent, proficient, resilient and self-performing in the long term, this story showcases more credibility to the CFCS project’s role in promoting awareness, correcting misconceptions, and reducing TB stigma. By working with community leaders and gatekeepers, the project has successfully mobilised the Yan Rake community in the fight against TB as over 57 more individuals have been screened, with more people now enlightened and willing to undergo testing in the community.

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