Fighting TB Through Awareness: Lessons from the Pre-Study TB Awareness Program in Pune Schools 

By Savita Kanade, Community Coordinator, BJMC CTU, Pune – a TFSI partner – with inputs from the GKII Team. 

The TB Free School Initiative (TFSI) launched its pre-study tuberculosis awareness program in Pune schools in July 2024 with the goal to educate children about TB prevention, symptoms, and treatment while engaging communities in early detection efforts. Over the past several months, as we engaged with students, teachers, and parents, we gained valuable insights into what works – and what doesn’t – when educating communities about TB. 

What We Learned from Talking to Students 

We reached more than 3,800 students across 32 schools, covering basic TB facts, symptoms, treatment, and prevention strategies. Many students had never heard of TB or believed it only affected adults, highlighting the importance of early education.  

The Eco Van, donated by PubMatic, served as a mobile learning center, bringing TB awareness materials directly to schools. 

We learned that younger children (grades 3-5) absorb information best through simple messaging, while older students (grades 9-10) engage more in interactive discussions. Holding separate sessions for boys and girls in high school encouraged more participation, as students felt comfortable asking questions. Quizzes and small prizes kept energy levels high, and one-hour sessions proved ideal for maintaining focus and retention. 

The team engaged students through quizzes, awarding small prizes to those who answered correctly. 

Extending Awareness to Families 

While students absorbed information eagerly, we quickly realized that knowledge needed to extend beyond the classroom. In many households, parents make health decisions, yet misconceptions about TB remain widespread. Schools helped us arrange two parent awareness sessions, where 230 parents participated in discussions about early symptoms, seeking medical care, and the importance of completing TB treatment. 

Where Do We Go from Here? 

The enthusiasm from students, teachers, and parents reinforced the need for age-appropriate, interactive, and community-driven TB education. These insights will guide our next steps as we expand school-based awareness programs, refining messaging for different age groups. We will be scaling up parental engagement efforts to ensure families have accurate information about TB prevention and care. We also plan to incorporate creative storytelling approaches, such as a street play on TB awareness featuring schoolchildren, scheduled for World TB Day 2025.  

Through early education, community involvement, and innovative outreach, the TFSI remains committed to ensuring that no child or family is left uninformed in the fight against TB.