Houston Health Department observes World TB Day

March 24 was World Tuberculosis Day and the Houston Health Department’s TB Control unit held its ceremony to reflect on the great work they’ve been doing and encourage each other on their path to eliminating the deadly disease. HHD’s TB Control program aims to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis in the greater Houston area. They screen, identify, and treat individuals with TB and partner with TB providers to ensure optimal care.

The event was led by members of the TB program, including Patrick Ndibe, Mark Tisdel, Dawn Clifton, Tonya Ellison, Naomi Macias and more. They kicked off with an acknowledgment of all the rigorous effort the team puts forth in protecting the community against the bacterial infection, jumping in immediately to investigate cases and caring for those who have been diagnosed with the illness. They also emphasized how passionate the team is about committing to the work on behalf of their patients and the program as a whole.

“The common thread between all of you sitting here, is your call to action for this infection, that you all love what you do, and you know the impact of your work and what that is for the City of Houston,” Clifton said. “The TB bureau will continue to be a staple for this department of what we should look for.”

After opening remarks, HHD’s Deputy Local Health Authority Dr. Janeana White delivered a speech on her relationship with the TB program and how encouraged she is to witness their dedication to eradicating the disease. Invoking the rallying call of World TB Day, “Yes! We can end TB”, Dr. White reminded the team that their sacrifice and expertise are changing the reality of their patients.

“Getting to ‘yes’ to me sounds ambitious but I am so grateful this team does not shy away from ambitious,” Dr. White said. She continued, “This disease is preventable and it’s curable. You guys invest in training, education, screenings, prevention, and treatment, you build capacity and leverage technology. You invest in the community, by inviting, listening and partnering with them. I am honored to say I can imagine ending TB because of each of you.”

Guests heard testimonies from two patients currently undergoing treatment for TB. One of Ellison’s patients with spinal TB shared her story and thanked her care team for getting her on the path to recovery. She detailed how her faith, along with her care team provided hope of her healing. Another patient in the city, a Filipino woman in her 70s, told about her journey with latent TB and how she appreciated the opportunity to cure her infection even in her elderly years.

The team also acknowledged their community partners who worked alongside them to provide testing for refugees. Dr. Ndibe said 67% of cases are foreign-born and the department works to meet with recently arrived individuals and provide testing for them. The YMCA and a local Catholic Charities chapter were instrumental in coordinating outreach and testing for Ukrainian refugees entering the city.

“As we celebrate the 2024 World TB Day, we salute the dedication of all HHD public health professionals, who are committed to reducing the incidence of tuberculosis in Houston,” Ndibe said. “The beautiful testimonies we heard from two of our TB patients should be a source of encouragement for us to continue the important work that Houstonians have given us; especially in light of dwindling resources.”

World TB Day raises public awareness of TB to increase efforts to end the global epidemic, by sharing success stories in TB prevention and recovery and highlighting the challenges that prevent progress towards eradicating the infection for good.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by germs that spread from person to person through the air when an individual with TB disease releases respiratory droplets. It usually affects the lungs but can spread to other areas in the body, including the kidneys, spine and even the brain. If properly treated TB can be cured but it can be fatal if left untreated.

Special thanks to the health department’s TB control team for the tireless work you do every day toward ending tuberculosis.