BracU smashes TB with the WHO 1+1 Youth Initiative
“Each one reach one, each one teach one, each one for each one”, the motto of WHO 1+1 Youth Initiative and Youth2EndTB, a joint effort between WHO Bangladesh and NYMAT Nepal, was brought to campus by BracU Community Service Club (BUCSC) on May 13th. During the ice-breaking session, Dr. David Dowland (Registrar, BracU) mentioned the importance of such campaigns to spread awareness and make youth better advocates. Tahsina Rahman (Joint Director, Student Life) and Dr Nadia Sultana Deen (Associate Professor, MNS) shared their bit about the severity of tuberculosis.
The myth-busting interactive quiz opened the students’ eyes to their many misconceptions about the disease. “Tuberculosis, once well discussed and slowly forgotten throughout the years, is as fatal as it was. It lies dormant until the body reaches old age and immunity crumbles”, said Dr. Anupama Hazarika (Medical Officer, WHO Bangladesh). Dr. Nazis Arefin Saki (National Professional Officer, WHO Bangladesh) added to the conversation, unveiling the taboo surrounding TB, urging youth to embrace the patients rather than shunning them from society.
Madhusudan Kaphle (Founder, NYMAT) detailed the vision he started out of pocket with a minimal budget, now gone global, to eradicate TB. He asks BUCSC for their assistance by being youth leaders, seeing the students’ enthusiasm. Sadiksha Sapkota (President, NYMAT) took two quizzes, pre-session and post-session, giving away cricket bats to six winners “to smash TB out of existence,” evoking laughs from the crowd. The day ended with enlightened perspectives from the crowd, refreshments and group photos to commemorate the fruitful event.
