Stop tuberculosis
Doctors for Peace, thanks to the funds of the 8×1000 of the Waldensian Table, carries out tuberculosis screenings for homeless people and follows them in a possible treatment process. It also promotes the hygienic-sanitary training of the beneficiaries and accompanies them in the regularization of health documentation.
The context
Tuberculosis is a disease that is decreasing sharply in the general population, but with a high prevalence among homeless people, due to exposure to atmospheric agents, difficult access to social and health services, promiscuity and poor hygienic conditions, which make these people more exposed to the disease and with a possible contagion.
The project therefore aims to carry out early diagnosis of TB in places where homeless people gather (such as canteens, dormitories, etc.) to identify any open forms of the disease and reduce the risk of contagion, ensuring the treatment of those who test positive.
Activities
The activities that will be carried out are:
– meetings scheduled at the meeting places of the beneficiaries, in which a free screening is carried out by chest X-ray, the report of which is delivered directly to the interested parties within 10-15 days. In the event of a doubtful or positive result, the person is accompanied to the competent structures of the National Health Service;
– training moments in the field of hygiene and health to increase the awareness of people at risk on the good practices to be adopted to reduce the risk of contagion. In addition, those who do not access the public health system will be helped in completing the procedures to benefit from essential services;
– mapping of aggregation centers and services dedicated to homeless people in the area. The data collected will be analyzed and shared with the national health system to improve knowledge about a category of people that is difficult to reach.
