Creating a Health Campaign Slogan for Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by an infection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli. It is manifested through fever and small lesions in the lungs, as well as other parts of the body (Whitman, 2000). Effective management of tuberculosis entails creating awareness about various factors that typify its transmission. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through a health campaign.
Health care experts argue that there is an urgent need to develop effective strategies that will end the tuberculosis epidemic around the world (Serlin, 2010). The most important element of a health campaign developed to increase awareness about the disease is the slogan. This is the phrase that introduces the subject matter of a cause. The slogan should be short, simple, specific, and easy to remember. This is crucial in ensuring the continuity of a campaign message (Whitman, 2000). A good example of an effective campaign slogan for tuberculosis is, Be Aware because Tuberculosis is Out There.
Studies have established that health campaigns for infectious diseases have a different dimension compared to that of sexually transmitted diseases. There are a number of factors that should be considered in creating a health campaign for tuberculosis. First, it is important to consider ways through which it is spread. Unlike sexually transmitted diseases that are spread through intercourse, tuberculosis is airborne.
The fact that the virus can spread through sneezing and coughing it means that more people are vulnerable (Serlin, 2010). People have less control over their chances of contracting tuberculosis because there is no need for physical contact. Second, it is important to consider the level of awareness in society (Serlin, 2010). A health campaign slogan for tuberculosis should be developed in a manner that attracts the attention of people vulnerable to its numerous risks, which are hard to identify and manage. The level of awareness about sexually transmitted diseases among people is higher compared to that of tuberculosis, owing to the fact the risk factors of the latter are hard to identify (Whitman, 2000).
Third, it is important to consider the various ways that people can protect themselves from contracting the disease. Options for prevention against tuberculosis are very limited compared to those of sexually transmitted diseases (Serlin, 2010). The fact that people interact with each other all the time, the chances of contracting tuberculosis are very high. This is common in places with high population density (Whitman, 2000).
The case of sexually transmitted diseases is different because people have numerous options for protecting themselves. They include abstaining from sex and using contraceptives such as condoms. An effective slogan for a tuberculosis health campaign should focus on encouraging people to undertake regular health checkups, as this is one of the few options that can reduce the chances of the disease spreading (Serlin, 2010).
Fourth, it is important to consider the risk population and treatment options available for each of them (Serlin, 2010). There is an urgent need to increase awareness about the treatment options available to tuberculosis patients. One of the most effective treatment options for tuberculosis is taking antibiotic drugs. The slogan for a tuberculosis health campaign should motivate people to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of the disease (Whitman, 2000). The risk population of tuberculosis is bigger compared to that of sexually transmitted diseases. Studies have established that cases of tuberculosis are common among the elderly, drug abusers, and densely populated communities with poor sanitation (Whitman, 2000). On the other hand, the risk population of sexually transmitted diseases is lower because they mostly affect individuals who engage in unprotected sexual activities.
References
Serlin, D. (2010). Imagining Illness: Public Health and Visual Culture. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. Web.
Whitman, J. (2000). The Politics of Emerging and Resurgent Infectious Diseases. New York: Macmillan Press. Web.