Stop TB Partnership

Kick TB campaign forges ahead in South Africa

1 June 2011 - Mpumalanga province, South Africa - South Africa’s national TB Awareness campaign, 'Kick TB' is making steady progress across the country, with Mpumalanga the latest province to be targeted.

The campaign distributes soccer balls which are illustrated with information about TB and HIV to children at schools. Since its launch in 2009 the campaign has reached nearly 30 000 children.

Two high burden districts and eight schools were targeted in Mpumalanga in May 2011, reaching an additional 6 000 children. When they return home, children act as TB ambassadors by playing with their soccer balls and reporting on any TB symptoms among their family and friends. Their reports are registered with the school nurse who reports findings to the local clinic.

Two further provinces, the Free State and the Northern Cape, will be trained by the Kick TB team in the coming months.

For further information, please see the Kick TB website: www.kicktb.co.za