Kineri Ko To: Inspiring Stories of Hope and Healing of TB

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a campaign called “Kineri Ko To” to raise awareness of Tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines and show that it can be cured. The campaign features online episodes that tell the stories of three individuals who battled TB and overcame it.

The USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems Strengthening (TBIHSS) Project is a five-year initiative designed to accelerate the fight against TB in the Philippines. The campaign aims to offer hope, revival, and healing for those who have been diagnosed with TB.

The first individual featured in the campaign is Mark Agana, who was diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in 2014. He did not comply with the TB treatment, resulting in TB’s reactivation in 2016. However, after receiving treatment for extrapulmonary TB at a government TB clinic, he regained his strength and lived a healthy lifestyle. He now works as a TB survivor advocate, raising awareness of TB prevention and care through social media platforms.

The second individual featured in the campaign is Nino Magpusao, who also stopped his medications when he felt better. When he returned to the health center with recurring symptoms, he faced discrimination from his relatives, who believed his condition was contagious. Despite this, he continued with his treatment and is now a survivor advocate with TB People Philippines, helping others with the same condition.

The third individual featured in the campaign is Louie Teng, the founder of TB People Philippines. She had no cough but went through a series of conditions, including discrimination from relatives and mental health issues. Her treatment lasted for months, and she was eventually cured. Now, she reaches out to people who have the same condition and their families, offering support and encouragement to break the stigma of this condition.

The episodes can be viewed on the Facebook Page of TB Free PH, and for more information about TB, visit healthylungs.ph. The website includes an online self-assessment tool to help with TB identification and treatment, as well as to locate the nearest health facility. The healthylungs.ph is part of the Department of Health (DOH)’s local communication campaign, Para Healthy Lungs, KonsulTayo, which aims to raise tuberculosis as a public health priority in the country using social and conventional media methods, supported by USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems Project (TBIHSS).