UK TB awareness campaign 2008
Following the publication of the Department of Health's (DH) toolkit for commissioning TB services, the DH has provided funding to TB Alert for a project to raise awareness among vulnerable groups at local level.
Research has been commissioned by the DH to provide an evidence base that TB Alert will use to develop and provide a single point-of-access national template of awareness resources. The development of targeted materials will spread the cost of production across a number of primary care trusts (PCTs), making these materials more affordable.
The new project also means that TB Alert's UK staffing will increase from one to two full-time roles, as well as two part-time support roles. One of these new posts - held by PCT Services Manager Linda Connor - will involve developing campaign strategies with PCTs, encouraging them to commission and develop TB awareness campaigns in line with the toolkit.
The new project will change TB Alert's way of working in the UK and will mean that TB services can buy into a package tailored to their local vulnerable communities. The first phase of the project - the translation of TB Alert's leaflet series into 20 languages - is already underway and electronic versions should be available soon.
TB Alert wants to make this an opportunity for TB nurse specialists to input their ideas for materials they would like to see developed. If you've been frustrated by the lack of a particular awareness-raising resource that you believe would help in your local communities, or want to find out more about the new project, get in touch with Tina Harrison at email: awareness@tbalert.org