in Serbia

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Identifying and treating the population at risk through Red Cross activities

Our experience is that it is absolutely necessary to use an active approach. For example Roma people in settlements with poor living conditions are approached by Red Cross Serbia activists, explaining what TB is, what the ways of transmission are, stressing that TB is curable and the treatment is free of charge, how they can get healthcare and how important it is to follow the full treatment course which was prescribed by doctors.

At the same time the activists ask people about symptoms. In the case of any suspicion that it might be TB, the person is referred to the local TB dispensary for further investigation. If TB is confirmed they usually stay in hospital during the initial treatment course approximately 60 days. When they are not contagious any more they are discharged from the hospital and have to go to the local TB dispensary to get their treatment in the continuation phase. As an incentive, Red Cross of Serbia is providing food parcels after each two weeks of compliant treatment.