The road to Balandrie is tough. It winds through steep, dry and dusty hills. Under a sweltering sun, the trees offer almost no shelter, the earth is cracked, and the houses made of wood, cob, or tin bear witness to very difficult living conditions.
We arrived on the morning of Saturday March 22, 2025. When we arrived, over a hundred people were already on site. Men, women, children, the elderly: all had come to benefit from a screening. The welcome was warm. The locals were curious, respectful and grateful. This was not just a medical activity, but a rare moment of exchange, listening and raising awareness.
In this remote area of Boucan-Carré, access to healthcare remains extremely limited. Yet, on this day, the people of Balandrie turned out in droves. Many walked long distances to be screened for the first time in their lives.
Among them was 29-year-old Lovelie Cherenfant. She hadn’t been feeling very well for a few days, not knowing if it was serious symptoms. When she heard that Zanmi Lasante was organizing a tuberculosis screening campaign, she decided to come along. She didn’t really know much about the disease, but she wanted to find out more and take care of her health.
The activity was coordinated by a small, committed team. Tamara Charles, TB/TB-MDR program nurse at Hôpital Bon Sauveur de Cange, stressed the importance of early detection. In communities like this one, it is essential to detect cases early in order to initiate treatment without delay and break the chain of transmission.
Dieufely Pierre, a laboratory technician specializing in TB diagnostics, was responsible for analyzing the samples. He has worked with Zanmi Lasante for 27 years. Despite the difficult transport conditions and logistical challenges, he remains deeply committed to his mission. For him, coming to Balandrie is where his work takes on its full meaning.
Community mobilization was handled by Baconois Filescar, a multi-skilled community health worker active since 2002. He knows every corner of the area, every family. He is the indispensable intermediary between the inhabitants and the medical teams. Beyond screening, he raises awareness, explains, reassures, and fights against prejudices linked to tuberculosis. His presence inspires confidence.
Throughout the day, residents asked questions, shared their concerns, and listened attentively. One elderly woman came with her children and grandchildren. She said, “You won’t find these services here every day… so you have to take advantage of them.” A simple sentence, but one that sums up the essential point: here, every medical visit counts.
On this World TB Day, we reaffirm a simple truth: ending tuberculosis is not a dream, it’s a duty.
This year’s theme, “Yes! We can end TB: commit, invest, act”, takes on its full meaning in Balandrie.
For these efforts to have a lasting impact, we must continue to invest, train, trust community players, and reach out to those who are too often forgotten.
Zanmi Lasante continues this commitment. The people of Balandrie have shown that they believe in it, too.