March 11, 2025, SAYWHAT, in partnership with the Stop TB Partnership Zimbabwe, actively participated in the World TB Day pre-commemorations held at Dzivarasekwa Stadium in the Harare Province. The event was centred around the powerful theme: “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” This theme resonates deeply as it calls for collective action and commitment to tackle the TB epidemic. The pre-commemoration aimed at ensuring that there is meaningful involvement of young people in the planning, implementation and decision making in the national TB response. The event was graced by Dr. Fungai Kavenga, Deputy Director of the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme among other TB stakeholders.

SAYWHAT recognizes the pivotal role that exhibitions play in such events, serving as a vital platform for educating communities about TB. These exhibitions facilitate meaningful engagement and the dissemination of critical information regarding tuberculosis, fostering a greater understanding of the disease and its impact. During the Pre-commemoration SAYWHAT exhibition stand serves as a source of information on the co-infection between TB and HIV. Fliers with TB education were distributed. Young people were educated on the nexus between HIV and TB, while others had the opportunity to collect free condoms that SAYWHAT distributed.

During the pre-commemorations, SAYWHAT National Coordinating Committee member and TB Champion, Kelvin Bepete delivered a solidarity message emphasizing the importance of reducing and eliminating stigma surrounding TB in our communities.

A highlight of the event was the art performance by Denzel Tavonga Whata, a Junior Mayor from Chitungwiza city in Zimbabwe, who passionately advocates for ending TB stigma through poetry. Whata, one of the 6 2024 Stop TB Partnership Community Award winners, orated his poem, “The Dawn of a New Day,” addressing the stigma associated with TB. His poignant words conveyed how stigma has adversely affected those diagnosed with the disease, urging the audience to embrace compassion and support.

Speaking with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television network (ZBC), SAYWHAT’s TB champion and a student at the Harare Institute of Technology, Alexa Sumbureru, commended the collective efforts towards young people’s empowerment on TB advocacy. She applauded the involvement of TB champions in SAYWHAT’s Young Researchers Initiative Programme, which encourages youth engagement in TB-related research, as well as dissemination of information through the SAYWHAT quarterly newsletter – the Observer.

“Empowering young people as TB Champions to advocate for accessible health services has led to increased screening among students and youth, significantly diminishing the stigma surrounding TB,” Sumbureru stated.

Sumbureru completed the interview by urging her peers and the nation over to seek medical attention if they experience persistent TB symptoms. She emphasized that combating TB stigma, early detection, and treatment of TB is crucial to improve health outcomes and ending TB by 2030.

The Guest of Honour Dr. Fungai Kavenga, Deputy Director of the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme, underscored the severity of the TB epidemic.  

“TB is the deadliest disease worldwide. We all have a role to play in ensuring that financial resources are available for TB medication, treatment, and screening. If diagnosed with TB, we encourage you to seek treatment, TB is curable.” Dr Kavenga

The pre-commemorations for World TB Day served as a powerful reminder of the collective efforts needed to combat TB. With continued commitment, investment, and collaboration, we can work together to end TB stigma and improve health outcomes for all. SAYWHAT urges all stakeholders to unite in the critical fight against tuberculosis, ensuring that every individual receives the support and care they deserve. From here, preparations for the actual commemoration on the 24^th of March begin. We applaud our TB champions for being proactive in spreading TB information to different communities and alarming their peers on the importance of being part of the awareness process in a bidto eliminate TB stigma.