The Zambart Ndola Office, under the TB REACH Project, joined the global community on 24 March 2026 to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day under the theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Countries, Powered by People.”
The event, held at the Ubumi Bwandi Community Hub, brought together community members, healthcare workers, local leadership, and cooperating partners in a unified effort to accelerate TB detection, treatment, and prevention across the Copperbelt Province.
Activities began with a vibrant march from Mapalo Clinic to the Zambart Hub, drawing participation from the community and key stakeholders. The procession served as a visible call to action—raising awareness, promoting early health-seeking behaviour, and confronting the stigma that continues to delay TB diagnosis and care.
Delivering the keynote address- was Dr. Naomi Kasanda, Ndola District Public Health Specialist, who noted that while tuberculosis remains a significant public health concern in the district, measurable progress has been made through intensified case finding and community-based interventions.
Dr. Kasanda also acknowledged the critical role of partnerships, particularly commending Zambart for its continued contribution through research and community-driven programmes such as Ubumi Bwandi.
Speaking on behalf of the Zambart Ubumi Bwandi Pantanshi (TB REACH Wave 11) Study, Study Manager Stable Besa emphasised the urgency of sustained action, noting that tuberculosis remains one of the world’s leading infectious diseases and continues to significantly affect communities in Zambia and that Zambart remains committed to the cause.
He highlighted that the global theme is more than a slogan, describing it as a call for collective responsibility, consistent action, and community-driven solutions to end TB.
Central to the commemoration was the impact of the Ubumi Bwandi (“My Health, My Choice”) initiative, an integrated, community-based screening and prevention programme implemented by Zambart.
The initiative is designed to bring health services closer to the people, addressing gaps in early diagnosis by offering multi-disease screening for both communicable diseases such as TB and non-communicable conditions directly within communities.
A key highlight of the event was the testimony of two beneficiaries of the study and now TB-free, who shared their personal journeys.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Zambart for bringing screening services closer to their community, which enabled early diagnosis and access to treatment.
Their stories brought a human face to the data—reinforcing that community-based interventions are not just effective, but life-saving.