Schoolchildren from across the country put up a colourful display of posters to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts here on Monday. This programme has now been running for four years and it has engaged around 110,000 children altogether.
The posters were an apt representation of the disease. While some drew the symptoms with people coughing blood, others highlighted preventive measures such as seeing the doctor when one gets a cut from rusted metal. A common slogan featured on many posters was “TB ka ilaj kal nahi aj!” Some had written captions beneath their drawings, while cautioning of dire consequences if preventive measures were not taken in time.
The Integrated Health Services CEO Dr Asim Mehmood told The Express Tribune that they chose to involve children for creating awareness as they are the best medium to teach and create awareness amongst the community. “Around 1,400 posters are picked each year to showcase from 10 districts,” he said. From each school, 30 children are selected from classes sixth through tenth. The participants are also awarded gift bags containing satchels, calendars, books and shields.
The programme seeks to sensitise children towards the disease, its causes and preventive measures. They are then asked to create awareness posters, the best of which are selected for the annual showcase.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2012.
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