Somali TB Campaign Uses Sports To Spread Awareness of Disease

The Somali National Olympic Committee, the World Health Organization and the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria recently launched a two-week TB campaign in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, the African Press Agency reports. The campaign aims to spread awareness of TB through sports ahead of World TB Day, which is scheduled for March 24.

Mohamed Hurshe Hassan Eenow, president of the Somali Handball Federation, said the campaign will comprise a walk through Mogadishu and a concert by the Somali band Iftin, as well as basketball, handball and volleyball games. According to Eenow, campaign organizers recently visited several schools in Mogadishu and gave students "detailed instructions about the seriousness" of TB and explained how to prevent the disease. Eenow added that the organizers "have decided to continue the games of basketball, handball and volleyball" until World TB Day, when physicians are scheduled to discuss TB in sports stadiums.

Abokar Ali Hilowle, Global Fund coordinator for south-central Somalia, said that TB is the second leading cause of death in Somalia after malaria but that health officials have "high hopes" of reducing TB prevalence in the next few years (African Press Agency, 3/12).